Use of a residual oligomer recyclate in the production of macrocyclic polyester oligomer

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods and systems for the use of an oligomer recyclate from a depolymerization product stream. The oligomer byproduct of a polyester depolymerization reaction can be used as a reactant in the formation of a polyester. For example, linear oligomer byproduct can be used as a reactant in a solution polymerization to form a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/665,648, filed on Mar. 25, 2005, the text of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to the following commonly-owned U.S. patent applications: Attorney Docket No. CYC-048, entitled, “PREPARATION OF LOW-ACID POLYALKYLENE TEREPHTHALATE AND PREPARATION OF MACROCYCLIC POLYESTER OLIGOMER THEREFROM,” AND CYC-054, entitled, “METHODS FOR REMOVING CATALYST RESIDUE FROM A DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESS STREAM,” both of which are filed on even date herewith and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to methods for preparing macrocyclic polyester oligomers. More particularly, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods and systems for the use of an oligomer recyclate from a depolymerization product stream.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is a widely-used, high performance engineering resin that can be processed to make parts for automotive, electrical, and industrial applications. A commercial process for manufacturing PBT typically includes a series of reactors for performing transesterification and polycondensation reactions.

The transesterification step in the production of PBT generally involves reacting dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with excess 1,4-butanediol (BDO) at high temperature (i.e., 190° C.) in the presence of a catalyst to form bishydroxylbutyl terephthalate (BDO ester), as well as other compounds, for example, as shown in Reaction 1 as follows:

Reaction 1 is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the methanol produced.

The polycondensation step in the production of PBT involves the use of heat and vacuum to polymerize the transesterification reaction product. The transesterification product, for example, the BDO ester that is formed from Reaction 1, polymerizes in the presence of a catalyst and at high temperature (i.e. 240° C.) to form PBT, for example, as shown in Reaction 2 as follows:

The polycondensation reaction is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the BDO produced.

Undesirable side reactions occur in the transesterification/polycondensation process for manufacturing PBT. Certain significant side reactions form tetrahydrofuran (THF), for example, as shown in exemplary Reactions 3 and 4 as follows:

The formation of THF is undesirable because BDO reacts to form THF, as seen in Reaction 3, thereby reducing the amount of BDO that is converted to PBT. Reaction 3 occurs in the early stages of polymerization when the concentration of BDO is high. During the later stages of polymerization, high processing temperatures promote production of THF from BDO-terminated polymer end groups, leading to a higher concentration of acid-terminated PBT chain ends, as seen in Reaction 4. Reaction 4 also demonstrates a link between THF formation and the concentration of acid-terminated chain ends of the PBT produced, since an acid-terminated chain end is produced for each molecule of THF formed via this pathway.

Acid groups in the final PBT polymer are undesirable, because they may adversely affect polymer properties, for example, hydrolytic and melt stability. High acid content also leads to corrosion problems when the PBT comes into contact with metal during injection molding or other polymer processing. Further disadvantages are described herein below with respect to the depolymerization of high acid PBT to form macrocyclic polyester oligomer.

A typical industrial process for making PBT includes unit operations for handling raw materials and products, as well as a series of reactors for performing transesterification, prepolycondensation, polycondensation, and solid state polymerization. Transesterification may be performed in a single- or multi-stage reactor. DMT and BDO are mixed and heated as they are fed into the reactor. The reaction mixture boils as methanol and THF are produced. The methanol vapor is condensed and recovered in a condenser.

A prepolycondensation step is then typically performed using one or more reactors operating at high temperature and low pressure (i.e. vacuum). In a prepolycondensation step, BDO produced during polymerization (i.e. Reaction 2) is removed using heat and vacuum. The BDO and final traces of methanol are recovered using condensers. A pump forwards molten polymer through a mixer, where stabilizers and additives may be introduced.

Polycondensation is the final stage of melt polymerization. Polycondensation requires a special reactor, for example, a rotating disc reactor such as a Vickers-Zimmer reactor, in order to facilitate the removal of BDO that drives polymerization. The polycondensation reactor is designed to remove BDO by providing a large amount of continuously-renewed surface area. BDO typically is removed in order to build the molecular weight of the PBT product.

A solid state polymerization step may be performed after melt polymerization in order to increase the molecular weight of the PBT. Solid state polymerization involves pelletizing the polymer produced in the polycondensation step and heating the pellets in a fixed bed until crystallization occurs. The polymer is then maintained at high temperature (i.e., 200° C.) while a stream of inert gas passes through the fixed bed to carry away the BDO formed during polymerization. The solid state polymerization step may take up to 18 hours or more.

Processes for the commercial manufacture of PBT are expensive. Capital costs are high, due to the special reactors needed for transesterification, prepolycondensation, polycondensation, and solid state polymerization. For example, the transesterification reactors must be designed to minimize sublimation of reactant DMT, the prepolycondensation reactors must be designed to operate at high temperatures and high vacuum (low pressure), and the polycondensation reactors must be designed to provide continuously renewed surface area for BDO removal during polymerization. Processing costs are also high, due to various factors including the cost of maintaining the high temperatures and low pressures of the reactors, the cost of the catalyst required, and inefficient conversion of reactants due to the loss of BDO as THF, for example.

Methods have been proposed for reducing THF formation in the manufacture of PBT. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,879 by Yuo et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,108 by Yuo et al. describe the use of a multi-component catalyst system to accelerate polycondensation. These patents suggest that the use of an alkali metal phosphate as a co-catalyst along with tetrabutyl titanate or tetraisopropyl titanate reduces formation of THF in the preparation of PBT from DMT. Another method for reducing THF formation is described in the article entitled, “Effect of salts on the formation of THF in preparation of PBT by TPA process,” by Chang and Tsai, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 45 (2), pp. 371-373 (1992). This article proposes the use of potassium and sodium salts to lower the amount of THF formed in PBT production. The article describes application of the technique in conjunction with the direct reaction of BDO and terephthalic acid (TPA) to produce PBT. Special equipment is necessary for commercial applications involving direct esterification with TPA because TPA sublimes and cannot be easily purified by distillation.

Despite industry improvements, a significant percentage (i.e. 3 wt. %) of reactant BDO is typically lost as THF in present commercial PBT manufacturing processes.

Furthermore, commercially manufactured PBT has a high acid content. Various methods have been proposed for reducing the acid concentration of PBT. For example, diepoxides have been used to reduce the acid content of PBT from 44 mmol/kg to 10 mmol/kg. See Gooijer et al., “Carboxylic acid end group modification of poly(butylene terephthalate) in supercritical fluids,” Polymer, 44 (8), pp. 2201-2211 (2003). Another method for reducing the acid concentration of PBT is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,377 by Braune. This patent describes the use of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound to reduce the concentration of acid groups in PBT. Another proposed method of reducing acid groups in PBT is to add diol just before final polycondensation to directly react with the terminal carboxylic acid groups. However, the addition of a diol may decrease the polymerization reaction rate or even reverse the reaction, thereby producing lower molecular weight polymer.

Despite industry improvements, commercially manufactured PBT typically has an acid concentration greater than about 35 meq/kg, although some specially-manufactured PBT has an acid content as low as 7 meq/kg. Various high-grade PBT's that are commercially available include Valox® 315 manufactured by GE Plastics of Pittsfield, Mass. (38 meq acid/kg), Ultradur® B6550 manufactured by BASF Corporation of Wyandotte, Mich. (19 meq acid/kg), and Celanex® 2001 manufactured by Ticona Engineering Polymers of Shelby, N.C. (7 meq/kg). Valox® 315 and Ultradur® B6550 are melt-polymerized PBT's, while Celanex® 2001 is a solid state-polymerized PBT.

PBT may be depolymerized to form macrocyclic polyester oligomers (MPO's), including, for example, the cyclic form of poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (cPBT). MPO's have unique properties that make them attractive as matrix-forming resins for engineering thermoplastic composites. MPO's lend valuable characteristics to polymerized products, for example, high strength, high gloss, and solvent resistance. Furthermore, because certain MPO's melt and polymerize at temperatures well below the melting point of the resulting polymer, polymerization and crystallization can occur virtually isothermally upon melting of the MPO in the presence of an appropriate catalyst. The time and expense required to thermally cycle a tool is favorably reduced, because demolding can take place immediately following polymerization, without first cooling the mold.

Various methods for preparing MPO by depolymerizing polyesters have been described. See, e.g., co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,783 by Brunelle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,161 by Brunelle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,984 by Brunelle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,186 by Brunelle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,164, by Faler, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,632 by Phelps et al., the texts of which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Depolymerization of commercially-available PBT into cPBT typically requires a high catalyst concentration. For example, the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,186 by Brunelle et al. describes depolymerization of PBT using from about 1.0 to about 5.0 mole percent of a titanium catalyst based on total moles of polyester monomer units. The depolymerization reaction typically progresses relatively slowly and produces undesired byproducts, including hydroxybutylester linear oligomers, which are separated from the product stream. These byproducts are typically gellular in nature, and are physically difficult to remove.

Furthermore, residual acid typically is removed from the cPBT product stream, by, for example, costly treatment using alumina-packed columns. The more acid that is present, the more costly the treatment. Finally, commercially-available PBT suitable for depolymerization into cPBT is costly, due in part to the expense involved in its production.

Thus, for effective manufacture of cPBT, there is a need for less costly starting materials. There is also a need for PBT that has lower acid end group concentrations. Furthermore, there is a need for a faster, more efficient, less costly method for depolymerizing PBT into its cyclic form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to methods and systems for the use of an oligomer recyclate from a depolymerization product stream. The oligomer byproduct of a polyester depolymerization reaction can be used as a reactant in the formation of a polyester. For example, linear oligomer byproduct can be used as a reactant in a solution polymerization to form a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate.

In one embodiment, a residual oligomer recyclate is obtained from a depolymerization process and is used as a reactant in the polymerization and subsequent depolymerization (cyclization) of low-acid polyester to form macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO). The related U.S. patent application Attorney Docket No. CYC-048, entitled, “PREPARATION OF LOW-ACID POLYALKYLENE TEREPHTHALATE AND PREPARATION OF MACROCYCLIC POLYESTER OLIGOMER THEREFROM,” (filed on even date herewith, the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describes methods for preparing MPO via low-acid polyester intermediate.

In general, residual oligomer, particularly acid-capped residual linear oligomer that forms as a byproduct in the depolymerization/cyclization of polyester, can be recycled in a combined polymerization and depolymerization/cyclization process for producing MPO. In order to avoid buildup of catalyst in the combined polymerization and depolymerization/cyclization process, it is preferred that the recycle stream be substantially free of metal-containing catalyst. Methods and systems for the removal of catalyst residue from a depolymerization product stream without use of a water quench are described in related U.S. patent application Attorney Docket No. CYC-054, entitled, “METHODS FOR REMOVING CATALYST RESIDUE FROM A DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESS STREAM,” filed on even date herewith, the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In one embodiment, these methods may be advantageously applied in order to remove catalyst residue from a depolymerization product stream before it is recycled.

Low-acid polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) can be produced by reacting butanediol (BDO) and dimethylterephthalate (DMT) in an organic solvent—for example, ortho-dichlorobenzene (oDCB)—in the presence of a catalyst. The reaction does not require application of high heat or vacuum and can be conducted at about atmospheric pressure (or greater than atmospheric pressure) and at a temperature less than about 240° C., preferably less than about 200° C., and preferably at about the boiling point of the solvent. Furthermore, there is a much broader range of effective catalyst concentrations that may be used via the solution polymerization method of the invention than typically used in standard melt polymerization and solid state polymerization techniques. As a result, lower concentrations of catalyst may be used, thereby decreasing material costs and processing costs.

The production of low-acid PBT involves reacting DMT with a slight molar excess of BDO in the presence of a catalyst to form bishydroxylbutyl terephthalate (BDO ester), as shown in Reaction 1 as follows:

Reaction 1 is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the methanol produced. The BDO ester that is formed from Reaction 1 polymerizes in the presence of a catalyst and at high temperature (i.e. 240° C.) to form PBT, as shown in Reaction 2 as follows:

As is true for the transesterification of Reaction 1, the polymerization of Reaction 2 is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the BDO produced.

The low-acid PBT produced by methods of the invention can be depolymerized to make the cyclic form of PBT (cPBT). It has been discovered that depolymerization (cyclization) of the low-acid PBT requires less catalyst and reaches equilibrium faster (i.e. has faster initial rates of conversion of PBT to cPBT) than depolymerization of commercially-available PBT. The combined discoveries regarding the production and use of low-acid PBT are synergistically exploited in a method for preparing cPBT, wherein BDO and DMT are reacted in solvent to make low-acid, non-isolated PBT, which is directly depolymerized (cyclized) to form cPBT.

The present invention relates to methods for using residual oligomer from the depolymerization of a polyester as a reactant in the production of the polyester. For example, in one embodiment, residual oligomer from the depolymerization/cyclization of PBT is used as a reactant in the polymerization of PBT. Furthermore, it is possible to produce low-acid PBT using residual oligomer as a reactant, while still preserving the ability to use lower catalyst concentrations, the ability to conduct the reaction at lower temperature and at atmospheric pressure, and the ability to use slight molar excesses of BDO relative to the acids present in the reactant. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that any proportion of residual oligomer and monomer (i.e., BDO ester) may be used, and that it is possible to use the residual oligomer whether or not it has been filtered for removal of catalyst residue.

In one embodiment, the polymer produced using residual oligomer as reactant is substantially indistinguishable from low-acid polymer produced from pure monomers (i.e. BDO and DMT). The use of residual oligomer is advantageously applied in a process for preparing the cyclic form of polybutylene terephthalate (cPBT), wherein BDO and residual oligomer (and, optionally, DMT), are reacted in solvent to make low-acid PBT, which is then depolymerized to form cPBT. Higher usage efficiency of reactants and/or higher conversion of monomer to MPO result from the use of recycled residual oligomer. In one embodiment, the use of residual oligomer from the depolymerization reaction as a recyclate in the polymerization reaction to make low-acid PBT allows the overall conversion of monomers to cPBT to surpass about 98%, while the one-pass process yield of cPBT from PBT is typically between about 70% to about 85%.

Residual oligomer from the depolymerization of low-acid PBT includes carboxylic acid-terminated linear oligomer species, for example, the species shown below:

where n is an integer, generally from 1 to about 5, but where higher molecular weight species are possible as well. The use of carboxylic acid-terminated linear oligomer species as reactant in the polymerization of low-acid PBT results in the formation of water due to the condensation of acids with BDO, as illustrated in Reaction 5 as follows:

The amount of BDO that is required to convert the linear oligomers to high molecular weight PBT is determined by measuring the acid level of the linear oligomers. It has been found that slight molar excesses of BDO relative to the acids present in the linears (for example, from about 10% to about 50%) are generally adequate to convert the linears to high molecular weight polymer with low residual acid. Thus, it is possible to use lower catalyst concentrations for the subsequent depolymerization of the low-acid polymer.

The depolymerization recyclate may contain a non-negligible amount of macrocyclic species—for example, high molecular weight species that precipitate out of the depolymerization reaction mixture—that are not usable as MPO. It is not necessary to separate these species from lower molecular weight linear oligomers of the recyclate. The high molecular weight cyclic species in the recyclate do not adversely affect polymerization of monomer or linear oligomers, because they revert to high molecular weight linear polymer under the solution polymerization reaction conditions.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The method generally includes the steps of (a) exposing a mixture to heat to produce a polyalkylene terephthalate product and (b) depolymerizing the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The mixture at least initially includes a diol, a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate, an organic solvent, and a catalyst. The mixture may optionally include a dialkyl ester.

In some embodiments, the diol may be, for example, a butanediol. The dialkyl ester, if present, may be a dimethyl terephthalate. In these embodiments, the resulting polyalkylene terephthalate product may include polybutylene terephthalate. Typically, the polyalkylene terephthalate product produced in step (a) has a very low acid concentration. For example, the polyalkylene terephthalate product may have an acid concentration of less than about 10 meq/kg, less than about 7 meq/kg, less than about 5 meq/kg, less than about 2 meq/kg, or less than about 1 meq/kg.

Various organic solvents may be used. In some embodiments, the organic solvent may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of ortho-dichlorobenzene, ortho-xylene, xylene, methylene chloride, chlorobenzene, naphthalene, toluene, tetramethylbenzene, and methylnaphthalene. In other embodiments, the organic solvent may include an alkane, such as tetradecane and hexadecane, and/or a perfluorocompound, such as perfluoro(tri-n-butylamine) and perfluoro(tri-n-pentylamine).

Suitable catalysts that may be used to practice the present invention include, but are not limited to, various organotitanate and organotin compounds. In some embodiments, the catalyst may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexyl titanate, tetrakis-(2-ethylhexyl) titanate, tetrabutyl titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate, an alkoxy titanate, titanium methoxide, titanium ethoxide, diisopropoxide bis(2,4-pentanedionate), and butanediol titanate. In other embodiments, the catalyst may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of a dialkyltin, a dialkyltin oxide, a dialkyltin alkoxide, a stannoxane, and a spiro tin compound.

In some embodiments, the catalyst may include a mixture of reaction products of n(Ti—(OR¹)₄)+m(HO—R²—OH), wherein each R¹ is independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, R² is a C₂-C₆ alkylene group, and each of m and n is greater than 0, with m/n being less than 2. Another suitable catalyst may include a mixture of reaction products of x(Ti—(OR¹)₄)+y(HO—R²—OH)+z((HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH)), wherein each R¹ is independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, R² is a C₂-C₆ alkylene group, each of R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ is independently a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, W is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen-containing group, a phosphorus-containing group, or a C₁-C₄ alkylene group, each of x and y is greater than 0, and y is greater than z.

In certain embodiments, the catalyst may include a metal Q chosen from the group consisting of Sn or Ti. In these embodiments, the catalyst may be present in the mixture in step (a) at a concentration less than about 1.0 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units, preferably less than about 0.5 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units, and more preferably less than about 0.1 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units. In particular embodiments, the catalyst may be present in the mixture at a concentration less than about 0.05 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units, and more preferably at a concentration within a range from about 0.01 mol Q to about 0.03 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units. In other embodiments, the catalyst may include titanium and may be present in the mixture at a concentration within a range from about 0.01 mol Ti to about 0.03 Ti per 100 mol monomer units, the recyclate, and optionally a dialkyl ester in the mixture.

In some embodiments, the recyclate may include at least one of a linear oligomer and a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The linear oligomer may be, for example, an acid-capped linear oligomer. In other embodiments, the recyclate may include a high molecular weight macrocyclic compound, including but not limited to, a macrocyclic polyester oligomer.

In some embodiments, at least part of the recyclate in step (a) may be from the depolymerization in step (b). In certain embodiments, at least part of the recyclate may be treated for removal of metal-containing compounds prior to step (a). For example, at least 50 wt. % of the recyclate may be treated. Preferably, at least 80 wt. % of the recyclate may be treated. More preferably, at least 90 wt. % of the recyclate may be treated. The metal-containing compounds may be titanium-containing compounds. The metal-containing compounds may include catalyst residue. In some embodiments, at least part of the recyclate may be unfiltered.

The weight ratio of recyclate to non-recyclate monomer at least initially in the mixture of step (a) may be between about 1:99 to about 100:0. For example, the weight ratio of recyclate to non-recyclate monomer at least initially in the mixture of step (a) may be greater than about 5:95, greater than about 10:90, greater than about 25:75, or greater than about 50:50. In some embodiments, at least about 85 weight percent of monomer units from the diol and the recyclate may be converted to the macrocyclic polyester oligomer. Preferably, at least about 98 weight percent of monomer units from the diol and the recyclate may be converted to the macrocyclic polyester oligomer. As aforementioned, the mixture of step (a) may optionally include a dialkyl ester. The overall conversion of monomer to macrocyclic polyester oligomer may be at least about 90%, preferably at least about 95%, and more preferably at least about 98%.

In some embodiments, the diol may be present in the mixture at a molar excess relative to acid in the recyclate. For example, the molar excess may be between from about 10% to about 200%, including but not limited to, less than about 150%, less than about 100%, less than about 75%, less than about 50%, and less than about 20%. In certain embodiments, the reaction conditions of step (a) may be selected such that a limited amount of the diol may react to form the undesirable by-product tetrahydrofuran. In particular embodiments, less than about 3 wt. % of the diol may react to form tetrahydrofuran in step (a). In preferred embodiments, less than about 1 wt. % of the diol, even less than about 0.5 wt. % of the diol, may react to form tetrahydrofuran in step (a).

In some embodiments, the mixture in step (a) may be substantially free of water and/or oxygen. For example, the mixture in step (a) may have a water concentration no greater than 50 ppm and/or an oxygen concentration no greater than 20 ppm.

Steps (a) and (b) may be performed using various kinds of reactors. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of step (a) and step (b) may be performed using at least one continuous or semi-continuous reactor. In alternative embodiments, at least one of step (a) and step (b) may be performed using at least one batch reactor. In other embodiments, at least one of step (a) and step (b) may be performed using at least one multiple-stage reactor.

In some embodiments, step (a) may be conducted at a temperature below about 240° C., for example, below about 230° C., below about 210° C., or below about 190° C. In certain embodiments, step (a) may be conducted at a temperature within a range from about 170° C. to about 210° C. In particular embodiments, step (a) may further be conducted at a pressure no less than about atmospheric pressure.

In some embodiments, step (b) may be conducted in the presence of the catalyst from step (a). The catalyst may include a metal Q chosen from the group consisting of Sn and Ti, in which case, the catalyst may be present in step (b) at a concentration less than about 2.0 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units. In preferred embodiments, the catalyst may be present in step (b) at a concentration between about 0.2 mol Q to about 0.7 mol Q per 100 mol monomer repeat units.

In some embodiments, step (b) may include exposing the polyalkylene terephthalate product to heat in the presence of a titanium catalyst. The concentration of the titanium catalyst may be less than about 2 mol Ti per 100 mol monomer units of the polyalkylene terephthalate product. In preferred embodiments, the concentration of the titanium catalyst may be less than about 0.75 mol Ti per 100 mol monomer units of the polyalkylene terephthalate product. The titanium catalyst in step (b) may be the same as the catalyst in step (a).

In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of precipitating a metal-containing compound from the recyclate prior to step (a). This optional precipitating step may be performed without addition of water, and may include exposing the recyclate to a temperature of at least about 245° C. for at least about 10 minutes. Following precipitation, the concentration of the metal-containing compound that remains dissolved in the recyclate may be less than about 200 ppm metal, preferably less than about 100 ppm metal, more preferably less than about 25 ppm metal, and even more preferably less than about 5 ppm metal. The metal may be titanium.

In another aspect, the invention is related to a method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The method generally includes the steps of exposing the mixture to heat to produce a polybutylene terephthalate product, and depolymerizing the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The mixture at least initially may include 1,4-butanediol, a recyclate from depolymerization of polybutylene terephthalate, an organic solvent, a titanium catalyst, and optionally, dimethyl terephthalate.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing a polyalkylene terephthalate product. The method generally includes the step of exposing a mixture to heat. The mixture at least initially includes a diol, a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate, an organic solvent, and a catalyst.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The method generally includes the steps of (a) exposing a mixture to heat to produce a polyalkylene terephthalate product, and (b) depolymerization the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The mixture at least initially includes a diol, a linear oligomer, an organic solvent, a catalyst, and optionally, a dialkyl ester. In some embodiments, the polyalkylene terephthalate product produced in step (a) may not be isolated prior to step (b).

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a continuous or semi-continuous process for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The process generally includes a first unit operation having an output stream and a second unit operation having an input stream that includes at least a portion of the output stream of the first unit operation. The first unit operation may be adapted to expose a mixture to heat to form a polyalkylene terephthalate product, while the second unit operation may be adapted to expose the input stream to heat to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The mixture at least initially may include a diol, a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate, an organic solvent, a catalyst, and optionally, a dialkyl ester.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates a method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The method generally includes the steps of (a) exposing a mixture to heat to produce a polyalkylene terephthalate product, and (b) depolymerizing the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The mixture at least initially includes a diol, a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate, a catalyst, and optionally, a dialkyl ester. In some embodiments, the mixture of step (a) may further include a solvent. In certain embodiments, the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) may have an acid concentration of less than about 10 meq/kg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram depicting unit operations in a process for producing a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram depicting unit operations in a process for producing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer by polymerizing and subsequently depolymerizing/cyclizing a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram depicting unit operations in a process for removing catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream and separating out byproduct residual oligomer for use as a recyclate, wherein the catalyst residue removal step includes heating a depolymerization product stream so that homogeneous catalyst material therein becomes inhomogeneous and precipitates out of solution, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a variation of the process flow diagram of FIG. 3, wherein the depolymerization/cyclization is performed at a temperature high enough to allow conversion of metal-containing catalyst residue to precipitates from solution during depolymerization, thereby eliminating the need for the separate heating unit operation of FIG. 3, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a chromatogram from the HPLC analysis of a solution in an experiment demonstrating removal of catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a chromatogram from the HPLC analysis of a solution in an experiment demonstrating removal of catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a graph of data from the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of a solution in an experiment demonstrating removal of catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a graph of data from the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of a solution in an experiment demonstrating removal of catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a graph of molecular weight of PBT (obtained by gel permeation chromatography) as a function of reaction time, thereby comparing polymerization using pure monomers as reactants versus using a combination of pure monomers and a linear oligomer recyclate, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a graph of the change in cPBT concentration in a depolymerization reaction mixture (obtained by HPLC analysis) as a function of time, thereby comparing depolymerization using low-acid PBT produced from pure monomers versus using low-acid PBT produced from a combination of pure monomers and a linear oligomer recyclate, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a graph of the concentration of diol dimer, for example, bishydroxylbutyl terephthalate (BDO ester), in a depolymerization reaction mixture after 5 minutes of depolymerization at 180° C., plotted as a function of catalyst concentration, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing tetrahydrofuran (THF) generated during the course of solution polymerization using three different catalyst levels, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 13A, B, and C show three acid titration curves for a blank (A), a commercially-available PBT (Valox 315) (B), and a low-acid PBT produced by methods described herein, according to illustrative embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 14A, B, C, and D show plots of molecular weight of polymer as a function of reaction time for polymerization reactions using various proportions of Ti-free linear oligomer and crude linear oligomer as reactants, thereby demonstrating the recyclability of linear oligomers produced in the depolymerization of PBT to form cPBT, according to illustrative embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for manufacturing low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), by reacting a diol and a dialkyl ester (and/or an oligomer recyclate) in an organic solvent and in the presence of a catalyst to form non-isolated, low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. The invention also relates to methods and systems for preparing macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) from low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate depolymerization in an organic solvent and in the presence of a catalyst. By combining these methods, the invention affords methods for preparing MPO via polymerization and subsequent depolymerization/cyclization of a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate.

In this combined method, it has been found that overall conversion of reactants to MPO can be improved by recycling at least a portion of the residual oligomers formed as a byproduct in the depolymerization of polyalkylene terephthalate. Thus, the invention affords methods for using a residual oligomer byproduct as a recyclate in a process for producing macrocyclic polyester oligomer. The residual oligomer is a byproduct of the depolymerization of a polyester, for example, a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. A recycle stream containing oligomer residue from a depolymerization step is advantageously used as a raw material in the polymerization step to form low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, which is subsequently depolymerized to form macrocyclic polyester oligomer.

It has been found that use of the above-referenced recyclate can be improved by removing metal-containing catalyst residue from the recyclate stream before it is used in the polymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate. Accordingly, the invention relates to methods for removing catalyst residue from a process stream in which low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate has been depolymerized to produce macrocyclic polyester oligomer. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for precipitating a metal-containing compound from a mixture without addition of water. Thus, the invention facilitates the recycling of residual oligomer from a depolymerization process stream by allowing filtering of the stream without addition of water and without buildup of catalyst residue.

Throughout the description, where compositions, mixtures, blends, and composites are described as having, including, or comprising specific components, or where processes and methods are described as having, including, or comprising specific steps, it is contemplated that, additionally, there are compositions, mixtures, blends, and composites of the present invention that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited components, and that there are processes and methods of the present invention that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited processing steps.

It should be understood that the order of steps or order for performing certain actions is immaterial so long as the invention remains operable. Moreover, two or more steps or actions may be conducted simultaneously.

Macrocyclic polyester oligomers that may be employed in this invention include, but are not limited to, macrocyclic poly(alkylene dicarboxylate) oligomers having a structural repeat unit of the formula:

where A is an alkylene, or a cycloalkylene or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group; and B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group.

Preferred macrocyclic polyester oligomers include macrocyclic poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (cPBT), macrocyclic poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) (cPPT), macrocyclic poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (cPCT), macrocyclic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (cPET), and macrocyclic poly(1,2-ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (cPEN) oligomers, and copolyester oligomers comprising two or more of the above monomer repeat units.

Methods of the invention may be used to produce macrocyclic homo- and co-polyester oligomers. In one embodiment, macrocyclic ester homo- and co-oligomers produced via methods of this invention include oligomers having a general structural repeat unit of the formula:

where A′ is an alkylene, cycloalkylene, or mono- or polyoxyalkylene group, and where A′ may be substituted, unsubstituted, branched, and/or linear. Example MPO's of this type include butyrolactone and caprolactone, where the degree of polymerization is one, and 2,5-dioxo-1,4-dioxane, and lactide, where degree of polymerization is two. The degree of polymerization may also be 3, 4, 5, or higher. Molecular structures of 2,5-dioxo-1,4-dioxane and lactide, respectively, appear below:

In general, a macrocyclic polyester oligomer (an MPO) produced via methods of the invention includes species of different degrees of polymerization. Here, a degree of polymerization (DP) with respect to the MPO means the number of identifiable structural repeat units in the oligomeric backbone. The structural repeat units may have the same or different molecular structure. For example, an MPO may include dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer, and/or other species.

It is contemplated that alternative embodiments of the invention include methods for preparing and/or depolymerizing/cyclizing low-acid poly(alkylene isophthalate), including poly(butylene isophthalate). Certain embodiments of the invention include methods for preparing low-acid poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(alkylene terephthalate), poly(propylene terephthalate), and/or copolymers thereof. Further, it is contemplated that alternative embodiments of the invention include methods for preparing and/or depolymerizing/cyclizing low-acid poly(alkylene dicarboxylates) other than poly(alkylene terephthalates). It is contemplated that alternative embodiments include methods for preparing and/or depolymerizing/cyclizing mixtures of two or more species, where the two or more species can be selected from any combination of one or more of the following categories: poly(alkylene isophthalates), poly(alkylene terephthalates), and other poly(alkylene dicarboxylates).

Where methods of the invention refer to the use of a dialkyl terephthalate, such as DMT, those methods are also contemplated to include variations of the method in which terephthalic acid is used instead of at least a portion of the dialkyl terephthalate. For example, it is contemplated that a method of the invention in which a transesterification is performed using a dialkyl terephthalate and a diol inherently includes an adaptation in which terephthalic acid is used instead of the dialkyl terephthalate and a direct esterification is performed instead of a transesterification.

It is contemplated that methods, systems, and processes of the claimed invention encompass scale-ups, variations, and adaptations developed using information from the embodiments described herein. For example, the invention includes pilot plant and plant-scale manufacturing processes whose feasibility is demonstrated by the laboratory-scale experiments described herein. The chemical reactions described herein may be performed using reactor equipment that is known to those of ordinary skill in the field of polymer manufacturing and processing, including, without limitation, for example, batch reactors, plug-flow reactors, continuously-stirred tank reactors, packed-bed reactors, slurry reactors, and fluidized bed reactors. Chemical reactions described herein may be conducted in batch, semi-continuous, and/or continuous operation.

Scale-up of systems from laboratory to plant scale may be performed by those of ordinary skill in the field of polymer manufacturing and processing. For example, those of ordinary skill in this field may select reactor types, design experiments for obtaining kinetic data, develop and apply models for reactor design, develop economically optimum reactor design, and/or validate reactor designs via pilot plant and/or full scale reactor experiments. General information regarding reactors and the design of reactor systems for manufacture of products may be found, for example, in “Kinetics and Reaction Engineering,” John L. Falconer, editor, in The Engineering Handbook, Section X, Richard C. Dorf, editor-in-chief, CRC Press, Inc., ISBN 0-8493-8344-7, pp. 785-829 (1995).

Any suitable techniques for material separation, isolation, and purification may be adapted for application in manufacturing processes encompassed by various embodiments of the invention, for example, techniques for distillation, extraction, reactive extraction, adsorption, absorption, stripping, crystallization, evaporation, sublimation, diffusional separation, adsorptive bubble separation, membrane separation, and/or fluid-particle separation. General information regarding separation processes and their design may be found, for example, in “Separation Processes,” Klaus Timmerhaus, editor, in The Engineering Handbook, Section VIII, Richard C. Dorf, editor-in-chief, CRC Press, Inc., ISBN 0-8493-8344-7, pp. 579-657 (1995).

It is also contemplated that methods, systems, and processes of the claimed invention may include pumps, heat exchangers, and gas-, liquid-, and/or solid-phase material handling equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the field of polymer manufacturing and processing.

Embodiments of the invention may be performed as part of a continuous, semi-continuous, or batch process. Reactors may be single-stage or multi-stage. It is contemplated that methods of the invention may be combined or supplemented with reactors, systems, or processes that are known in the art.

The mention herein of any publication, for example, in the Background section, is not an admission that the publication serves as prior art with respect to any of the claims presented herein. The Background section is presented for purposes of clarity and is not meant as a description of prior art with respect to any claim.

The following general definitions may be helpful in understanding the various terms and expressions used in this specification.

Definitions

As used herein, “macrocyclic” is understood to mean a cyclic molecule having at least one ring within its molecular structure that contains 5 or more atoms covalently connected to form the ring.

As used herein, an “oligomer” is understood to mean a molecule that contains one or more identifiable structural repeat units of the same or different formula.

As used herein, a “macrocyclic polyester oligomer” (MPO) is understood to mean a macrocyclic oligomer containing structural repeat units having an ester functionality. A macrocyclic polyester oligomer typically refers to multiple molecules of one specific repeat unit formula. However, a macrocyclic polyester oligomer also may include multiple molecules of different or mixed formulae having varying numbers of the same or different structural repeat units. Thus, the terms “macrocyclic polyester oligomer” and “macrocyclic polyester oligomers” (plural form) may be used interchangeably. Also, the terms “macrocyclic polyester oligomer” and “macrocyclic oligoester” are used interchangeably herein. A macrocyclic polyester oligomer may be a co-polyester or multi-component polyester oligomer, i.e., an oligomer having two or more different structural repeat units having ester functionality within one cyclic molecule.

As used herein, “substantially homo- or co-polyester oligomer” is understood to mean a polyester oligomer wherein the structural repeat units are substantially identical or substantially composed of two or more different structural repeat units, respectively. Unless otherwise noted, the polyester oligomers described herein include substantially homo-polyester oligomers as well as substantially co-polyester oligomers.

As used herein, an “alkylene group” is understood to mean —C_(n)H_(2n)—, where n≧2.

As used herein, a “cycloalkylene group” is understood to mean a cyclic alkylene group, —C_(n)H_(2n-x)—, where x represents the number of H's replaced by cyclization(s).

As used herein, a “mono- or polyoxyalkylene group” is understood to mean [—(CH₂)_(m)—O—]_(n)—(CH₂)_(m)—, wherein m is an integer greater than 1 and n is an integer greater than 0.

As used herein, a “divalent aromatic group” is understood to mean an aromatic group with links to other parts of the macrocyclic molecule. For example, a divalent aromatic group may include a meta- or para-linked monocyclic aromatic group (e.g., benzene).

As used herein, an “alicyclic group” is understood to mean a non-aromatic hydrocarbon group containing a cyclic structure within.

As used herein, a “C₁₋₄ primary alkyl group” is understood to mean an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms connected via a primary carbon atom.

As used herein, a “C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group” is understood to mean an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, including straight chain or branched radicals.

As used herein, a “methylene group” is understood to mean —CH₂—.

As used herein, an “ethylene group” is understood to mean —CH₂—CH₂—.

As used herein, a “C₂₋₃ alkylene group” is understood to mean —C_(n)H_(2n)—, where n is 2 or 3.

As used herein, a “C₂₋₆ alkylene group” is understood to mean —C_(n)H_(2n)—, where n is 2-6.

As used herein, “substitute phenyl group” is understood to mean a phenyl group having one or more substituents. A substituted phenyl group may have substitution pattern that is recognized in the art. For example, a single substituent may be in the ortho, meta or para positions. For multiple substituents, typical substitution patterns include, for example, 2,6-, 2,4,6-, and, 3,5-substitution patterns.

As used herein, a “filler” is understood to mean a material other than a macrocyclic polyester oligomer or a polymerization catalyst that may be included in a blend material comprising a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. One or more fillers may be introduced at any point before, during, or after the processes described herein. A filler may be used to achieve a desired purpose or property, and may be present or transformed into known and/or unknown substances in the resulting polyester polymer. For example, the purpose of the filler may be to provide stability, such as chemical, thermal, or light stability, to the blend material or the polymer composition; to increase the strength of the polymer composition/product; and/or to increase electrical and/or thermal conductivity of the blend material and/or the polymer composition. A filler also may provide or reduce color, provide weight or bulk to achieve a particular density, provide reduced gas and vapor permeability, provide flame or smoking resistance (i.e., be a flame retardant), be a substitute for a more expensive material, facilitate processing, and/or provide other desirable properties. Illustrative examples of fillers are, among others, graphite, exfoliated graphite, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, carbon fibers, buckminsterfullerene, diamond, anhydrous magnesium silicate (anhydrous talc), fumed silica, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, wollastonite, chopped fibers, fly ash, glass, glass fiber, milled glass fiber, glass microspheres, micro-balloons, crushed stone, nanoclay, linear polymers, monomers, branched polymers, engineering resin, impact modifiers, organoclays, and pigments. Multiple fillers may be included in MPO blends, for example, to achieve a balance of properties. For example, an impact modifier may be added to an MPO blend containing exfoliated graphite so that the resulting blend and/or polymer composition exhibits high impact resistance as well as high electrical conductivity.

Various organic solvents may be used to practice the present invention. In some embodiments, the organic solvent may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of tetradecane, hexadecane, octadecane, toluene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, tetramethylbenzene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, naphthalene, methylnaphthalene, biphenyl, triphenyl, diphyenyl ether (or a halogenated derivative thereof), anisol, methylene chloride, dimethyoxybenzene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, chloronaphthalene, dichloronaphthalene, and/or a perfluorocarbon. In particular embodiments, the organic solvent may include ortho-xylene. In other embodiments, the organic solvent may include ortho-dichlorobenzene. In some embodiments, the organic solvent may include an alkane, such as tetradecane and hexadecane. In other embodiments, the organic solvent may include a perfluorocompound, such as perfluoro(tri-n-butylamine) and perfluoro(tri-n-pentylamine).

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram 100 depicting a process for producing a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and butanediol (BDO) are reacted to produce low-acid polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). One or more input streams 102 provide reactants, including DMF, BDO, and, optionally, a residual oligomer byproduct from the depolymerization of PBT 104. The one or more input streams 102 also provide solvent (i.e., ortho-dichlorobenzene, oDCB), and a titanium catalyst. The process includes one or more unit operations 106 for producing a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, in which transesterification and polycondensation reactions occur. Methanol and water that are evolved as gas 108 during the reactions may be captured and condensed to liquid form. The following are examples of reactions that are believed to occur during transesterification and polycondensation:

Reaction 1 is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the methanol produced.

The polycondensation illustrated in Reaction 2 is an equilibrium reaction and is driven forward by removal of the BDO produced.

The reactions can be performed with, but do not require, application of high heat and/or application of a vacuum and/or can be conducted at about atmospheric pressure (or greater than atmospheric pressure) and at temperatures around the boiling point of the solvent. It is possible to use very low concentrations of catalyst, for example, it is possible to use less than about 0.03 mol % Ti (0.03 mole Ti per 100 moles monomer repeat units). The one or more unit operations 106 include one or more reactors for performing the transesterification and polycondensation reactions. The reactor(s) may be single-stage or multi-stage reactors, and the process 100 may be a continuous, semi-continuous, or batch process. Because the reactions may be conducted at lower temperatures than standard PBT production methods, a special reactor for minimizing sublimation of reactant DMT may not be necessary. Furthermore, the number of reactors needed may be reduced because the polycondensation reaction may be conducted, at least in part, in the same reaction vessel in which transesterification is conducted.

Side reactions forming tetrahydrofuran (THF) may occur in the transesterification and/or polycondensation steps, for example, as shown in exemplary Reactions 3 and 4 as follows:

It has been found that these side reactions can be reduced in implementations where low temperature and low catalyst concentrations are used in the transesterification and/or polycondensation steps.

The process 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may optionally include an input stream 104 that provides a residual oligomer as a reactant in the production of low-acid PBT. For example, the process stream 104 may include residual linear oligomer from the depolymerization of PBT, such as a carboxylic acid-terminated linear oligomer species shown below:

where n is an integer, generally from 1 to about 5, but where higher molecular weight species are possible as well. The use of carboxylic acid-terminated linear oligomer species as reactant in the polymerization of low-acid PBT results in the formation of water due to the condensation of acids with BDO, for example, as illustrated in Reaction 5 as follows:

The amount of BDO that is required to convert linear oligomers to high molecular weight PBT can be determined by measuring the acid level of the linear oligomers used as reactant. It has been found that slight molar excesses of BDO relative to the acids present in the linears (for example, from about 10% to about 50%) are generally adequate to convert the linears to high molecular weight polymer with low residual acid in the resulting PBT.

The output stream 110 of the polymerization may then be filtered for removal of non-PBT species, and stabilized in order to prevent formation of acid species. The low-acid PBT may be pelletized, shaped, or otherwise processed 112 so that the resulting PBT product 114 is in a form that is convenient for transport.

The ability to use less catalyst in the production of cPBT provides advantages in addition to the cost savings from the use of less catalyst. For example, use of less catalyst results in a lower level of diol-terminated linears in the dilute depolymerization reaction, and consequently lowers the level of residual acids in cPBT filtrate streams. Also, the presence of less acid and less titanium catalyst improves the filterability of the linear byproduct, reducing associated processing and capital equipment costs.

In certain embodiments, the solution polymerization process for producing low-acid PBT offers improvement over traditional melt or solid state processes. For example, the solution polymerization process for production of low-acid PBT requires less capital equipment than traditional higher-acid PBT production processes because it is possible to conduct polymerization at atmospheric pressure, and further, in certain embodiments, the solution polymerization process does not require a separate step for isolating the PBT.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 depicting a process for producing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer by polymerizing and subsequently depolymerizing/cyclizing a low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. In the example depicted in FIG. 2, DMT and BDO react to produce low-acid PBT 110, which is depolymerized (cyclized) to form cPBT. The output stream 110 of the polymerization step 106 contains low-acid PBT and is used as input in a depolymerization (cyclization) step 202. It may not be necessary to transfer the polymerization output 110 from one vessel to another, because depolymerization may be conducted using one or more of the reaction vessel(s) used in the polymerization step. In one embodiment, a single unit operation 204 includes both the polymerization and depolymerization steps. In certain embodiments, the low-acid PBT is, essentially, an intermediate in the production of cPBT. The low-acid PBT produced thusly may be allowed to build to a molecular weight determined to provide improved overall cPBT production rate and/or properties. For example, in certain embodiments, the average molecular weight of the intermediate low-acid PBT may be allowed to build to greater than about 1000 Da, greater than about 5000 Da, greater than about 10,000 Da, greater than about 15,000 Da, greater than about 25,000 Da, greater than about 40,000 Da, greater than about 60,000 Da, greater than about 75,000 Da, greater than about 100,000 Da, or greater than about 125,000 Da. In certain embodiments, the average molecular weight of the intermediate low-acid PBT may be kept from building too high; for example, the molecular weight of the intermediate low-acid PBT may be kept lower than about 125,000 Da, lower than about 100,000 Da, lower than about 75,000 Da, lower than about 60,000 Da, lower than about 40,000 Da, lower than about 25,000 Da, lower than about 15,000 Da, lower than about 10,000 Da, or lower than about 5000 Da. In certain embodiments, the average molecular weight of the intermediate low-acid PBT may be kept within a range, for example, from about 1000 Da to about 125,000 Da, from about 5,000 Da to about 75,000 Da, from about 15,000 Da to about 60,000 Da, from about 25,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, or from about 40,000 Da to about 100,000 Da.

The unit operations depicted in the figures may include input and output streams in addition to those shown. For example, in FIG. 2, solvent may be added to dilute the product of the polymerization step 106 to levels required for the depolymerization step 202. The process streams shown may contain components other than those listed. The representative contents of process streams are provided for convenience.

In the process of FIG. 2, an output stream 206 of the depolymerization reaction may contain cPBT product in oDCB solvent, as well as byproducts including, for example, residual oligomer, catalyst residue, THF complexes, non-MPO macrocyclic material, and other compounds. The depolymerization output stream 206 undergoes filtration and/or other separation processing so that cPBT product 212 and/or residual oligomers 210 may be extracted. The cPBT product 212 can undergo pelletization and/or shaping 214 for conversion into an easily-transportable form. Pelletization and shaping methods that may be used in this step are described, for example, in co-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0254281, entitled, “Isolation, Formulation, and Shaping of Macrocyclic Oligoesters,” by Thompson et al., the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

A recyclate stream 210 rich in residual oligomer including, for example, the above-referenced carboxylic acid-terminated linear oligomer species, may be separated from the depolymerization output stream 206. The residual oligomer-rich stream 210 can then be used as input in the polymerization step (106 or 204), thereby increasing overall conversion of monomers to cPBT.

It is generally preferable, but not required, to remove catalyst residue before using oligomer byproduct as recyclate in the polymerization step (106 or 204 of FIGS. 1 and 2), as this yields the desired low-acid polyester while requiring less BDO for the reaction to build to a sufficiently high molecular weight. Re-polymerization of the residual oligomer to PBT that is suitable for use in cPBT production is demonstrated using titanium-free or crude residual oligomers and with residual oligomers that are combined with monomers (i.e. BDO and DMT).

A catalyst, for example, a titanium catalyst that is added to a dilute PBT-depolymerization reaction mixture containing oDCB solvent will transition from a soluble, homogeneous form into an insoluble form with exposure to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time. The precipitated catalyst residue can be separated from depolymerization reaction products—for example, cPBT and low molecular weight, acid-terminated linear oligomers—by any suitable separation technique, such as filtration, centrifugation, or decantation techniques. The ability to remove the titanium from the product and byproducts of the depolymerization reaction, without a water quench step, allows recycling of the residual oligomers to form PBT, and subsequently cPBT, without q build-up of titanium in the overall integrated process.

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram depicting unit operations in an embodiment of a process for removing catalyst residue from a depolymerization process stream, according to an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, catalyst residue removal involves heating the depolymerization product stream at a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficiently long period of time so that homogeneous, Ti-containing catalyst material therein becomes inhomogeneous and precipitates out of solution. For example, PBT dissolved in organic solvent such as oDCB (as might be provided, for example, by stream 110 of FIG. 2 but could also be provided by other means) undergoes depolymerization/cyclization 306 in the presence of a Ti-containing catalyst to produce an output stream 310 containing cPBT, dissolved catalyst residue, residual oligomer, and other byproducts. In one embodiment, the depolymerization and cyclization takes place at a lower temperature, for example, at 180° C. In certain embodiment, for example, the depolymerization/cyclization takes place at a temperature below about 245° C., at a temperature below about 225° C., at a temperature below about 200° C., and at a temperature below about 190° C. The depolymerization step 306 in FIG. 3 thus could be analogous to the depolymerization step 202 in FIG. 2. In step 308 of FIG. 3, the depolymerization reaction products 310 are heated to a temperature of at least about 200° C., preferably at least about 225° C., and more preferably at least about 245° C. The heating step 308 may be conducted under pressure—for example, from about 50 psi to about 100 psi, and preferably at about 80 psi, where the temperature is about 245° C.—in order to avoid vaporization of solvent. After a sufficient period of time—for example, from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes where the temperature is about 245° C.—the Ti catalyst transitions from soluble to insoluble form and precipitates out of solution. The catalyst in the output stream 312 from the heating step 308 then can be simply filtered or otherwise removed 314 to produce a solid filter cake rich in catalyst residue 316, as well as a filtrate stream 318 containing dissolved cPBT and residual oligomer. The filtrate 318 may be further processed in one or more additional separation/filtration steps 320 to isolate product cPBT and to isolate residual oligomer 324, which can be used as a reactant in a polymerization, for example, analogous to 210 used in unit operation 106 in FIG. 2.

The depolymerization/cyclization step 306 and the heating step 308 to remove residual catalyst may be performed in the same vessel, or as part of the same unit operation 304. In one embodiment, depolymerization and precipitation of catalyst residue overlaps or occurs simultaneously. For example, FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram 400 depicting a variation of the process 300 in FIG. 3, wherein the depolymerization/cyclization 402 is performed at a temperature high enough (and for a residence time long enough) to allow conversion of metal-containing catalyst residue to precipitate from solution during polymerization. For example, in certain embodiments, the depolymerization/cyclization 402 is performed at a temperature of at least about 245° C. for a residence time of at least about 10 minutes; at a temperature of at least about 200° C. for a residence time of at least about 30 minutes; at a temperature of at least about 225° C. for a residence time of at least about 20 minutes; at a temperature of at least about 245° C. for a residence time of at least about 15 minutes; at a temperature of at least about 245° C. for a residence time of at least about 20 minutes; and at a temperature of at least about 260° C. for a residence time of at least about 5 minutes. In the process 400 of FIG. 4, there is no need for a separate heating step to remove catalyst residue, rather the output stream from cyclization 312 is subjected to filtration, decantation, centrifugation, and/or other separation 314 to produce a catalyst residue 316 and cPBT residual oligomer 318, as in the step 314 of FIG. 3.

Polymerization catalysts and depolymerization/cyclization catalyst that may be used in methods of the invention include known organotin and organotitanate compounds, although other catalysts may be used. In an embodiment of the invention in which a polymerization is conducted to form a polyester, which is subsequently depolymerized to form an MPO, it is possible to use either the same or different catalysts in the polymerization and depolymerization steps.

Illustrative organotin compounds that may be used as polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalysts include 1,1,6,6-tetra-n-butyl-1,6-distanna-2,5,7,10-tetraoxacyclodecane; n-butyltin (IV) chloride dihydroxide; dialkyltin (IV) oxides, such as di-n-butyltin (IV) oxide and di-n-octyltin oxide, and acyclic and cyclic monoalkyltin (IV) derivatives such as n-butyltin tri-n-butoxide; dialkyltin (IV) dialkoxides such as di-n-butyltin (IV) di-n-butoxide and 2,2-di-n-butyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxacycloheptane; and trialkyltin alkoxides such as tributyltin ethoxide. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,985 to Pearce et al.

Also, trisstannoxanes having the general formula (I) shown below can be used as a polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalyst:

where R₂ is a C₁₋₄ primary alkyl group and R₃ is a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group.

Additionally, organotin compounds with the general formula (II) shown below can be used as polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalysts:

where R₃ is defined as above.

Illustrative titanate compounds that may be used as polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalysts include tetra(2-ethylhexyl) titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate, tetrabutyl titanate, and titanate compounds with the general formula (III) shown as follows:

wherein: each R₄ is independently an alkyl group, or the two R₄ groups taken together form a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R₅ is a C₂₋₁₀ divalent or trivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R₆ is a methylene or ethylene group; and n is 0 or 1.

Examples of titanate compounds with the above general formula are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Examples of Titanate Compounds Having Formula (III)

Di-1-butyl 2,2-dimethylpropane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di-1-butyl 2,2-diethylpropane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di-1-butyl 2(1-propyl)-2- methylpropane-1,3-dioxytitanate

Di-1-butyl 2-ethylhexane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) 2,2-dimethylpropane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) 2,2-diethylpropane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) 2-(1-propyl)-2- methylpropane-1,3-dioxytitanate

Di(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) 2-ethylhexane- 1,3-dioxytitanate

Di(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) 2-(1-butyl)-2- ethylpropane-1,3-dioxytitanate

Titanate ester compounds having at least one moiety of the following general formulas may also be used as catalysts:

wherein: each R₇ is independently a C₂₋₃ alkylene group; R₈ is a C₁₋₆ alkyl group or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group; Z is O or N; provided when Z is O, m=n=0, and when Z is N, m=0 or 1 and m+n=1; each R₉ is independently a C₂₋₆ alkylene group; and q is 0 or 1.

Examples of such titanate compounds are shown below as formula (VI) and formula (VII):

Other catalysts which may be used in embodiments of the invention include aryl titanates, described, for example, in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,906,147, the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Also, polymer-containing organo-metal catalysts may be used in methods of the invention. These include the polymer-containing catalysts described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,138 by Wang, the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the catalyst is preferably of a type that is capable of use in both polycondensation as well as depolymerization/cyclization. In one embodiment, where the catalyst is used in a reaction to produce low-acid PBT (i.e. via polycondensation), which does not thereafter undergo depolymerization/cyclization, the catalyst may be any known polyester-forming catalyst, for example, a metal oxide such as antimony oxide; a transition metal salt such as zinc acetate and/or cobalt acetate; a salt of Hg, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cr, Mo, or W; a tin compound and/or a titanate compound; or any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of various embodiments to employ two or more different catalysts. For example, two or more catalysts may be used to vary the rate of polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization. Also, a catalyst that has little or no activity may be used in conjunction with a promoter. Reaction may be triggered and/or accelerated on demand by addition of the promoter to a mixture of reactants in the presence of the catalyst(s). Various catalyst/promoter systems are described, for example, in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/329,454, filed on Jan. 10, 2006, the text of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Certain catalysts may be reaction products themselves, which are then used to catalyze polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization reactions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,632 by Phelps et al. (the '632 patent), the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes a mixture of reaction products of x(Ti—(OR¹)₄)+y(HO—R²—OH)+z((HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)(OH)). The mixture of reaction products is preferably substantially free from di-functional diols other than HO—R²—OH. That is, the mixture is preferably substantially free from (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH). “Substantially free” in this context means that the mixture of reaction products is at least 90%, and preferably 95%, free of all di-functional diols other than HO—R²—OH, which is determined by the amount of diols originally present.

Referring to the above formula, each R¹ is independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, or a hexyl group. R² is a C₂-C₆ alkylene group, such as an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. Each of R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is independently a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group. However, at least one of R³ and R⁴ and at least one of R⁵ and R⁶ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. Thus, (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH) is a secondary or a tertiary alcohol. W is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen-containing group (e.g., a —N(R⁷)— group, wherein R⁷ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₈ alkyl group), a phosphorus-containing group (e.g., a —P(R⁸)— group, wherein R⁸ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₈ alkyl group), or preferably a C₁-C₄ alkylene group such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. Each of x and y is greater than 0, and y is greater than z. Thus, there is more HO—R²—OH than (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH).

The reaction of the titanate and the diol(s) may be conducted in an organic solvent or neat. Any organic solvent may be used as long as it does not interfere with the desired reaction and the properties of the mixture of reaction products. Illustrative organic solvents that may be used include, but are not limited to, chlorohydrocarbons such as chloroaromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., o-dichlorobenzene). Preferably, no proton donating compounds such as water or acids are present during the reaction.

The mixture of reaction products may be prepared via a metathesis reaction. The reaction may be conducted at any temperature and pressure as long as it yields the desired mixture of reaction products. For example, the reaction of the titanate and the diol(s) may be carried out at a temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 190° C., from about 120° C. to about 180° C., or from about 140° C. to about 170° C. The reaction may be carried out in an inert environment, such as a nitrogen environment, but such conditions are not required. The reaction is not limited to any particular apparatus or specific processing steps. The reaction may be conducted in a reaction vessel that has stirring/agitation, heating, and distilling/refluxing capabilities.

The mixture of reaction products may be used as a polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalyst in various embodiments of the present invention. The mixture of reaction products may have a solvent added to it after its formation or the mixture may contain a solvent that was present during the reaction to form the mixture. Additionally, the reaction products may be recovered by precipitation from solution with cooling or addition of an anti-solvent, followed by filtration. In addition, volatile components, which may include solvent, may be removed under vacuum, with or without heating.

In one example, each of x, y, and z is greater than zero and y=2x−z. In this example, the molar sum of the starting diols, HO—R²—OH and (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH), is twice the molar amount of the titanate, Ti—(OR¹)₄.

In another example, z is zero and the ratio of y to x (i.e., the molar ratio of HO—R²—OH to Ti—(OR¹)₄) is greater than 2, thereby providing excess diol in the reaction starting materials. In this example, (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH) is not present. In other examples, the ratio of y to x is greater than 3, greater than 4, or greater than 5.

In certain examples, W preferably is a C₁-C₄ alkylene group, such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. In other examples, R¹ is an isopropyl group; R² is a butylene group; each of R³, R⁴, and R⁵ is a methyl group; and R⁶ is a hydrogen atom. In this example, the titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate, and the diols are 1,4-butanediol and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol.

The '632 patent also describes a mixture of reaction products of n(Ti—(OR¹)₄)+(2n-m)(HO—R²—OH)+m((HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH)). This mixture of reaction products may be used as a polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalyst in various embodiments of the present invention. The mixture of reaction products is substantially free from di-functional diols, such as HO—R²—OH) and (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH). Each R¹ is independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, or a hexyl group. R² is a C₂-C₆ alkylene group, such as an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. Each of R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is independently a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, except that at least one of R³ and R⁴ and at least one of R⁵ and R⁶, is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. W is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen-containing group (e.g., a —N(R⁷)— group, wherein R⁷ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₈ alkyl group), a phosphorus-containing group (e.g., a —P(R⁸)— group, wherein R⁸ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₈ alkyl group), or a C₁-C₄ alkylene group (e.g., a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group). Each of m and n is greater than 0.

The molar sum of the diols, HO—R²—OH and (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH), is twice the molar amount of the titanate, Ti—(OR¹)₄. In certain examples, W is a C₁-C₄ alkylene group, such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. In certain examples, R¹ is an isopropyl group; thus, the titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate. In other examples, R² is a butylene group; thus, one of the diols is 1,4-butanediol.

In another example, R¹ is an isopropyl group; R² is a butylene group; each of R³, R⁴, and R⁵ is a methyl group; and R⁶ is a hydrogen atom. In this example, the titanate oxide is tetraisopropyl titanate, and the diols are 1,4-butanediol and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol.

In certain examples, the ratio of m to 2n, which is the molar ratio of starting diol (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH) to all starting diols (HO—R²—OH and (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH)), is within a range from about 0.1 to about 0.5, from about 0.15 to about 0.45, from about 0.15 to about 0.35, or from about 0.15 to about 0.25.

The mixture of reaction products may further include an organic solvent, which may be added after the reaction. In certain examples, the reaction of the titanate and the diols is conducted in an organic solvent. Any organic solvent may be used as long as it does not interfere with the desired properties of the mixture of reaction products. Illustrative organic solvents that may be used include, but are not limited to, chlorohydrocarbons such as chloroaromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., o-dichlorobenzene).

Thus, the mixture of reaction products can be prepared by adding a pre-determined amount of each of Ti—(OR¹)₄, HO—R²—OH, (HO)—C(R³)(R⁴)—W—C(R⁵)(R⁶)—(OH), and a solvent if used into a reaction vessel and mixing these reagents at a pre-selected temperature and pressure. Distillation is conducted to remove R²—OH. The reaction may be followed by the amount of R¹—OH (e.g., isopropyl alcohol) liberated from the reaction. Thus, when the reaction is heated to the boiling point of R¹—OH, the reaction is complete when no more R¹—OH can be distilled off. Alternatively, the reaction may be monitored using NMR on samples periodically taken from the reaction. Depending on factors including the starting titanate, the starting diols, the ratio of diols and their ratio to the titanate, what solvent is employed, and the reaction temperature and pressure, the mixture of reaction products may take different forms, for example, as a solution, as a solid (i.e., a precipitate from the solution), or as a liquid.

The '632 patent also describes a mixture of reaction products of n(Ti—(OR¹)₄)+m(HO—R²—OH). This mixture of reaction products may be used as a polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization catalyst in various embodiments of the present invention. Each R¹ is independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, or a hexyl group. R² is a C₂-C₆ alkylene group, such as an ethylene group, a propylene group, or a butylene group. Each of m and n is greater than 0. The ratio of m to n (i.e., the molar ratio of (HO—R²—OH) to Ti—(OR¹)₄) is greater than 2.

In one example, R¹ is an isopropyl group; thus, the titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate. In another example, R² is a butylene group; thus, the diol is 1,4-butanediol. In yet another detailed example, R¹ is an isopropyl group and R² is a butylene group.

In certain examples, the ratio of m to n, which is the molar ratio of Ti—(OR¹)₄ to HO—R²—OH, is within a range from about 2 to about 6. In other examples, the ratio is within a range from about 2.5 to about 5.5, from about 3 to about 5, or from about 3.5 to about 4.5.

Excess HO—R²—OH may be removed after the reaction, and substantially all of the residual HO—R²—OH is separated from the rest of the mixture of reaction products. Removal may be effected by conventional techniques such as precipitation, filtration, distillation, and/or vacuum evaporation.

The reaction between the titanate (i.e., Ti—(OR¹)₄) and the diol (i.e., HO—R²—OH) may be conducted without a solvent, i.e., neat; thus, the mixture of reaction products does not include any solvent. However, a solvent may be added to the mixture of reaction products.

In one example, the mixture of reaction products can be prepared by adding a pre-determined amount of each of Ti—(OR¹)₄ and HO—R²—OH into a reaction vessel and mixing these reagents at a pre-selected temperature and pressure. Distillation is conducted to remove R²—OH. The reaction may be followed by the amount of R¹—OH (e.g., isopropyl alcohol) liberated from the reaction. Thus, when the reaction is heated to the boiling point of R¹—OH, the reaction is complete when no more R¹—OH can be distilled off. Alternatively, the reaction may be monitored using NMR on samples periodically taken from the reaction. Depending on factors including the starting titanate, the starting diol, the ratio of diol to the titanate, and the reaction temperature and pressure employed, the mixture of reaction products take different forms, for example, as a solid or a liquid.

The '632 patent provides specific examples of methods for producing reaction products which can be used as catalysts for polymerization and/or depolymerization/cyclization, described as follows.

Ti-(butanediol: diethylene glycol)

A 100 mL flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and fitted with a septum is flame dried under vacuum then filled with an inert gas. Tetraisopropyl titanate (15 mmol) is added followed by a mixture of diols (30 mmole total) then dry o-dichlorobenzene (25 mL). After the addition of all reagents the flask is fitted with a short path distillation head and heated in an oil bath to 140° C. for about 1 hour. Isopropyl alcohol liberated from the reaction of tetraisopropyl titanate and the diols is collected and then the solution is heated in 200° C. oil to strip off 15 ml of the o-dichlorobenzene to ensure that all isopropyl alcohol has been removed. Upon cooling the resulting solution is about 1 M in titanium. The catalyst is herein referred to by the abbreviation “Ti(BD:DEG)(3:1)” where the above referenced mixture of diols contains 3 molar parts butanediol and 1 molar part diethylene glycol per molar part of tetraisopropyl titanate. The catalyst is herein referred to by the abbreviation “Ti(BD:DEG)(1:1)” where the above referenced mixture of diols contains 1 molar part butanediol and 1 molar part diethylene glycol per molar part of tetraisopropyl titanate.

Ti-(butanediol: 2-methyl-2,4-pentandiol)

A 100 mL flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and fitted with a septum is flame dried under vacuum then filled with an inert gas. Tetraisopropyl titanate (15 mmol) is added followed by a mixture of diols (30 mmole total) then dry o-dichlorobenzene (25 mL). After the addition of all reagents the flask is fitted with a short path distillation head and heated in an oil bath to 140° C. for about 1 hour. Isopropyl alcohol liberated from the reaction of tetraisopropyl titanate and the diols is collected and then the solution is heated in 200° C. oil to strip off 15 ml of the o-dichlorobenzene to ensure that all isopropyl alcohol has been removed. Upon cooling the resulting solution is about 1 M in titanium. The catalyst is herein referred to by the abbreviation “Ti(BD:HG)(4:1)” where the above referenced mixture of diols contains 4 mole parts butanediol and 1 mole part 2-methyl-2,4-pentandiol (hexylene glycol) per molar part of tetraisopropyl titanate.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES

Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the solution polymerization of low-acid PBT and subsequent depolymerization/cyclization to form cPBT. More particularly, Example 1 illustrates a method of producing low-acid PBT via polymerization in organic solvent (“solution polymerization”); Example 2 illustrates a method of forming cPBT via depolymerization of the low-acid PBT; and Example 3 illustrates methods for preparing, purifying, isolating, and repolymerizing cPBT produced from low-acid PBT.

Experiments were also conducted to demonstrate the removal of titanium catalyst residue from a reaction mixture following PBT depolymerization. Example 4 illustrates a method of removing titanium residue from a solution of isolated filter cake; Example 5 illustrates a method of removing titanium residue from a depolymerization reaction mixture; and Example 6 illustrates a method for characterizing titanium precipitation and settling behavior in depolymerization reaction mixtures.

The last set of experiments demonstrates the recycling of residual oligomer byproducts formed in the depolymerization/cyclization of PBT to produce cPBT. Example 7 illustrates a method of recycling linear oligomer byproducts to produce PBT; Example 8 demonstrates polymerization to form PBT using a combination of residual linear oligomers with monomers, as well as using monomers without residual oligomers; Example 9 illustrates depolymerization of polymerized residual linear oligomers in glassware; and Example 10 illustrates the depolymerization of polymerized residual linear oligomers in plug flow coils at high temperature and under pressure.

The experiments employed the use of 1,4-butanediol (“BDO”) from Avocado Research Chemicals, Ltd. of Morecambe, United Kingdom. The BDO was dried over a molecular sieve so that it contained no more than about 50 ppm water prior to use. Tetraisopropyl titanate catalyst (“TPT”) was obtained from Gelest, Inc. of Morrisville, Pa. The TPT was purified through distillation, and then stored under nitrogen. Dimethyl terephthalate (“DMT”) (99+%) was obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co. of St. Louis, Mo., and was used without further purification. The anhydrous ortho-dichlorobenzene solvent (“oDCB”) was obtained from EM Science of Gibbstown, N.J., and it too was used without further purification. The HPLC-grade acetonitrile, reagent grade tetrahydrofuran (“THF”), and pure phenanthrene were also obtained from Aldrich, and all were used as received. Chlorosel 801 from Porocel Corporation of Houston, Tex. was used as the basic alumina. The titanium catalyst indicated as Ti(BD:HG)(4:1) in Example 5 is a mixture of reaction products of tetraisopropyl titanate, 1,4-butanediol, and 2-methyl-2,4-pentandiol, and was obtained using the procedure described herein above. Commercial sources of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) used in the experiments include Valox® 315 manufactured by GE Plastics of Pittsfield, Mass., Ultradur® B6550 and B2550 manufactured by BASF Corporation of Wyandotte, Mich., and Celanex® 2001 manufactured by Ticona Engineering Polymers of Shelby, N.C. Valox® 315 and Ultradur® B6550 are melt-polymerized PBT's, while Celanex® 2001 is a solid state-polymerized PBT.

The titanium-free linear oligomers of Example 7 were prepared using crude filter cake retained from Cyclics Corporation of Schenectady, N.Y. The filter cake was retained from the toll production of cPBT at Pressure Chemical Corp. of Leland, N.C. The linear oligomers were isolated through filtration at 10° C. so that most of the tetramers, hexamers, and heptamers present in the equilibrium mixture from depolymerization precipitated from solution prior to filtration, and were collected with the filter cake. The filter cake was then dissolved in an equal amount of oDCB and filtered at 180° C. through 5 μm filter pads to remove the insoluble titanium complexes. The linear oligomers were then allowed to precipitate from the filtrate through cooling at 50° C., and collected by Buchner funnel and dried. Crude linear oligomers were prepared by drying the crude filter cake.

Example 1 Low Acid PBT by Solution Polymerization

Ten experiments were conducted with charges of BDO (approximately 0.250 mmol), DMT (approximately 0.98 to 1.02 molar equivalents of BDO), and anhydrous oDCB (enough to result in a solution containing about 30% reactant solids). Each charge was added to a 250 ml three-necked round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a short path distillation head with a receiver flask, and an inert gas inlet. The weights of the charges for the ten experiments are listed in Table 2. TABLE 2 Summary of Solution Polymerization Data of Example 1 Adjusted Catalyst BDO DMT oDCB TPT Monomer Level Reaction (g) (g) (g) (mg) (% vs. BDO) (mol % Ti) 1 14.30 30.58 89.80 61.6 0.07 0.136 2 16.82 36.05 78.41 233.3 −0.57 0.440 3 16.16 34.65 86.24 25.3 0.03 0.050 4 15.34 33.00 57.60 7.7 −0.731 0.161 5 15.50 32.75 55.08 24.7 −2.037 0.053 6 25.32 54.15 67.22 12.6 0.369 0.016 7 18.22 39.39 107.50 15.8 −1.048 0.028 8 21.84 46.37 87.90 17.2 1.196 0.025 9 18.99 40.02 116.60 14.6 1.217 0.025 10 22.85 48.62 74.64 11.4 0.894 0.016

The reactants were then heated in a temperature-controlled oil bath. The initial temperature was set at 160° C. The overhead space of the flask was swept with a stream of dry nitrogen at a flow rate of approximately 50 to 100 ml/min throughout the polymerization. Approximately 10-150 mg of TPT was added to the subsurface of the solution by microliter syringe after the overhead space had been swept with nitrogen for about 15 minutes. The receiver flask was cooled in a bath of −40° C. methanol throughout the polymerization to trap the overhead volatile material. The solution in the reaction flask was sampled throughout the polymerization in order to monitor the molecular weight of the polymer by gel permeation chromatography (“GPC”) (See Appendix A). The distillate was likewise sampled to determine its composition using gas chromatography (“GC”) and potentiometric titration (See Appendices B and C respectively). The results of the solution and distillate analyses are summarized in Table 3 below. Table 3 includes the final molecular weight of the polymer at a final reaction time, the amount of THF generated by the polymerization, and the residual acid present in the polymer. TABLE 3 Summary of Solution Polymerization Analysis Residual Acid Molecular Weight (COOH) of Polymer Amount of THF Concentration Reaction (Daltons), Hour Generated (mol %) (meq/kg sample) 1 81K, 8 hrs 0.54 7.52 2 41K, 6 hrs 0.88 17.8 3 60K, 8 hrs 0.248 3.3 4 47K, 8 hrs 0.283 18.32* 5 25K, 8 hrs 0.171 6.37 6 41K, 6 hrs 0.099 1.44 7 37K, 8 hrs 0.113 1 8 45K, 8 hrs 0.167 1.6 9 51K, 9 hrs 0.25 1.5 10 67K, 12 hrs  0.235 0.9 *1% BDO added to the reaction after two hours of polymerization.

Example 2 Cyclic Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) (“cPBT”) Formation from Depolymerization of Low Acid PBT

A charge of about 7 mmol PBT and anhydrous oDCB were added to a flame-dried three-necked 250 ml round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a short path distillation head and condenser, and an inert gas inlet (the charge amounts are listed in Table 4 below). The flask was then submerged into a 220° C. oil bath. After the PBT dissolved and several milliliters of solvent had distilled overhead (to ensure dryness of the reaction), an organo titanate catalyst solution of freshly prepared Ti(BD:HG) (4:1) in oDCB at a concentration of 0.220 mmol/g was added to the flask using a syringe. The reaction was then maintained under a positive pressure of dry nitrogen, and the solution was periodically sampled to determine the extent of cPBT formation using the High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (“HPLC”) procedure described in Appendix D. The cPBT rates of formation for the reactions are listed in Table 4 below. The reactions were carried out at approximately the atmospheric boiling point of oDCB (182° C.).

Table 5 summarizes the results of additional depolymerization experiments performed as described above. Table 5 includes information regarding the concentration of cPBT after four hours of depolymerization. TABLE 4 Summary of cPBT Formation from Depolymerization Experiments Initial Catalyst cPBT PBT PBT oDCB (“CAT”) Distillate [PBT] [CAT] % CAT Rate (g) Source (g) (g) (g) (mmol/L) (mmol/L) (mol %) (g/L/hr) 1.3230 Celanex 121.3 0.202 4.55 66.40 0.4907 0.7390 8.01 2001^(a) 1.5566 Celanex 142.7 0.4177 6.35 66.80 0.8676 1.299 15.35 2001^(a) 1.8298 Celanex 165.1 0.6538 7.79 67.98 1.176 1.729 20.79 2001^(a) 1.5881 Celanex 143.8 0.7399 6.38 67.46 1.521 2.255 22.83 2001^(a) 1.5016 BASF 136.7 0.3747 11.232 70.00 0.8454 1.208 13.54 6550^(b) 1.8926 BASF 169.97 0.6954 7.563 68.09 1.211 1.778 20.68 6550^(b) 1.9167 BASF 172.28 0.8567 13.226 70.31 1.521 2.163 24.31 6550^(b) 2.101 Valox 188.36 0.7158 10.1266 68.89 1.136 1.649 13.89 315^(c) 1.5841 Valox 144.02 0.7385 11.788 69.89 1.577 2.256 18.65 315^(c) 1.6361 Valox 148.46 0.9209 10.1758 68.96 1.879 2.724 23.49 315^(c) 1.97 Reaction 186 0.2992 6.923 64.49 0.474 0.7351 16.29 10 from Example 1 ^(a)Celanex 2001 (7 meq/kg acid) ^(b)BASF 6550 (18 meq/kg acid) ^(c)Valox 315 (38 meq/kg acid)

TABLE 5 Summary of cPBT Formation from Depolymerization Experiments Initial [cPBT] at PBT % Catalyst cPBT Rate 4 hours Source (mol %) (g/L/hr) (g/L) Celanex 2001^(a) 3 26.8 9.7 BASF 6550^(b) 3 25.2 9.8 BASF 2550 3 25.2 9.3 Valox 315^(c) 3 16 9.9 BASF 6550^(b) 1 12.4 3.7 Valox 315^(c) 1 2.4 3.7 Reaction 10 from Example 1 0.74 16.3 9.6 Celanex 2001^(a) 0.75 8.01 8.5 BASF 2550 0.77 9.2 3.7 Reaction 10 from Example 1 0.5 17.6 9.6 Celanex 2001^(a) 0.45 6.8 4.8 BASF 2550 0.45 2.4 3.3 Reaction 6 from Example 1 0.19 10 9.3 Celanex 2001^(a) 0.25 3.2 4.3 BASF 6550^(b) 0.25 1.3 1.9 ^(a)Celanex 2001 (7 meq/kg acid) ^(b)BASF 6550 (18 meq/kg acid) ^(c)Valox 315 (38 meq/kg acid)

Example 3 Preparation, Purification/Isolation, and Repolymerization of cPBT Prepared from PBT Produced in Reaction 10 of Example 1

This experiment used a solution of PBT produced via the polymerization in Reaction 1 of Example 1. The resulting 0.065M PBT was then reacted with a 0.73 mol % organo titanate catalyst solution of freshly prepared Ti(BD:HG) (4:1) in oDCB. The solution was allowed to reflux for about 20 hours at which time all of the bishydroxy butylesters had decomposed into acids and the concentration of cPBT had reached a full equilibrium value of 10.6 g/L as determined by the HPLC method described in Appendix D. The solution was cooled to 95° C., treated with 0.15 ml of water to quench the catalyst, reheated to reflux, and then stripped to a concentration of 30 g/L of cPBT. The solution was then allowed to cool for 30 minutes to 50° C., and filtered through a 2 cm Buchner funnel.

A sample of the filtrate was titrated for determination of acid content using a Dye titration test. The filtrate was found to have an acid concentration of 0.09 mM. The filtrate was then slurried with about 0.5 g of basic alumina. The cPBT was then isolated by filtering the alumina and evaporating the oDCB solvent.

The isolated cPBT was mixed in a 1:19 ratio with a 6% XB3 catalyst and allowed to polymerize at 190° C. for 30 minutes. The resulting polymer had a molecular weight of about 178,000 Daltons as determined by a method as described in Appendix A.

Example 4 Removal of Titanium Catalyst Residue by Filtration of Solution of Isolated Filter Cake

Filter cake containing cPBT, residual linear oligomer, and titanium catalyst residue was first collected from the filtration of a depolymerization reaction mixture. Equal parts of the filter cake and oDCB were mixed and heated to 180° C. Most of the filter cake dissolved into solution, but a suspension of insoluble material remained. The resulting slurry was filtered using an ErtelAlsop model 4-T 250 cc pressure filter manufactured by ErtelAlsop of Kingston, N.Y. The filter was equipped with a 5 micron filter pad (ErtelAlsop micro-media M40 cellulose/perilite), to produce a filtrate substantially free of titanium and a filter cake enriched in titanium. The filtrate was cooled to 70° C. to precipitate the residual linear oligomers.

The filter cake enriched in titanium solid was mixed with oDCB to dissolve the remaining cPBT or linear oligomers. The slurry was then dried at 100° C. in vacuum to remove the oDCB, the dissolved cPBT, and the linear oligomers. The resulting titanium solid was characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis. It was determined that upon heating the titanium solid to above 425° C. in oxygen, 26.46% by weight of titanium dioxide remained. This indicates that the titanium solid contained approximately 18% by weight of titanium.

The titanium solid was also dissolved in THF containing 4% water at 70° C. for 1 hour, and was then analyzed by HPLC using the method described in Appendix D. A Hewlett Packard 1050 series HPLC system, manufactured by Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto, Calif., was used, but in this example, it was equipped with an AquaSep Column C8, 5.0 u, 150×4.6 mm. The sample was injected using the following gradient: 20% (0.08%) H₃PO₄ in water/80% MeCN to 100% MeCN over 10 min. FIG. 5 is a chromatogram 500 showing the separation of terephthalic acid, benzoic acid, mono methyl terephthalate and dimethylterephthalate from the solution.

The titanium solid was also dissolved in TFA containing about 2% water at 70° C. for 1 hour, and then, analyzed again by HPLC. FIG. 6 is a chromatogram 600 showing the separation of various acidic species including terephthalic acid, benzoic acid, and A2B1 species (see molecular structure in FIG. 6) from the solution.

Example 5 Titanium Removal by Filtration of Depolymerization Reaction Mixture

About 165 g of PBT was dissolved in 13.8 kg of dry oDCB at 180° C. to yield a 0.07M solution of PBT. The solution was allowed to cool to 20° C. The solution was then treated with 3 mol % titanium in the form of a 1M solution of Ti (BD:HG)(4:1) catalyst in oDCB. The resulting slurry was pumped through a 20′ carbon steel plug flow coil reactor at a rate of 4 reactor volumes per hour (i.e., 15 min residence time) at a temperature of 225° C. The resulting 14 kg of depolymerization reaction mixture containing cPBT was then filtered at 70° C. The titanium remained soluble, indicating that it continued to exist as a homogenous catalyst after exposure to the depolymerization reaction conditions.

This depolymerization reaction mixture was then added in 2 kg portions to a 2 L Parr reactor, heated to 245° C. for 15 minutes, cooled to 180° C., and then, filtered through the pressure filter described in Example 4.

The peroxide test was used to analyze the collected filtrate. Approximately 1 g of the filtrate was treated with 1M sulfuric acid in methanol and with approximately 0.1 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide. The resulting mixture was then heated and then visually analyzed for the presence of a yellow tint in the top methanol layer (visual detection of as low as 1 ppm titanium is possible). Visual analysis indicated that the solution was substantially titanium-free (less than about 1 ppm Ti). The titanium solid was also analyzed by TGA and HPLC. The HPLC results were essentially identical to those of Example 4. The TGA result is shown in FIG. 8. Table 6 summarizes the TGA results of Examples 4 and 5 (FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively). TABLE 6 Comparison of TGA of Titanium Solids Resulting from Filtration of Depolymerization Reaction Mixtures Sample Dry basis TiO₂ residue (wt. %) Titanium Solid from Example 4 26.46 Titanium Solid from Example 5 29.74

Example 6 Titanium Precipitation and Settling Behavior in Reaction Mixtures

Approximately 10 ml of a PBT depolymerization reaction mixture (0.07M PBT in oDCB containing 3 mol % of Ti catalyst) at 180° C. was added to a 20 ml glass pressure tube. The tube was heated in a 250° C. salt bath and observed over time. After 25 minutes of heating, a fine precipitate formed in the clear solution. After 30 minutes, the precipitate began to coagulate into larger particles, which then began to settle to the bottom of the tube. After 35 minutes, all of the precipitate had settled from solution. The tube was cooled to 180° C., and the supernatant was analyzed using the peroxide test described in Example 5. Titanium was not detected in the supernatant, indicating that most of it had been transformed from the homogeneous soluble form to a heterogeneous insoluble form after heating at 250° C. for 30-35 minutes.

Example 7 Solution Polymerization of the Residual Linear Oligomers Produced in the Depolymerization of PBT

Approximately 40 g of linear oligomers and 50 ml of oDCB were charged to a 250 ml three-necked flask with a mechanical stirrer and a 15×1 cm packed column fitted with a short path still head and receiver (the linear oligomers used in the Example are described in Table 7). The flask was heated in a 215° C. oil bath to reflux the solvent into the column so that the lower boiling materials such as water and THF were released overhead and the higher boiling materials such as oDCB were returned to the flask. 0.5 to 2 g of BDO and approximately 0.015 ml of TPT were then added to the flask.

The solution was sampled over time and analyzed by GPC to monitor the molecular weight of the polymer, as was similarly done in the Example described in Appendix A. The samples were also titrated using the method described in Appendix C to determine the amount of residual acid in the solution. The makeup of the linear oligomers, the amounts of BDO added, the polymerization reaction times, and the residual acid levels of the experiments are summarized in Table 8 below. The molecular weight of the polymer as a function of reaction time for Reactions LP1 to LP8 are shown in the plots of FIGS. 14A-14D.

The final polymer solution was allowed to cool and solidify, and then dried in vacuum to a powder for depolymerization evaluation. TABLE 7 Characterization of Linear Oligomers Used in Example Titanium-Free Linear Oligomers Crude Linear Oligomers Mw vs. PS (Daltons) 3,023 3,023 Acid content (meq/kg) 237 383 % cPBT Oligomers 28.6 37.8

TABLE 8 Linear Oligomer Recovery Experiments and Acid Level of Final Polymers Titanium- Crude Free Linear Linear Oligomers Oligomers Rxn Time Acid Reaction (g) (g) (hr) BDO (g) (mmol/kg) LP 1 40 0 14 1 1.6 LP 2 0 40 14 1 84.0 LP 3 40 0 14 0.5 1.2 LP 4 0 40 14 2 22.7 LP 5 38 2 14 1 1.2 LP 6 32 8 14 1 1.1 LP 7 38 2 14 0.5 1.5 LP 8 32 8 14 0.5 1.8 LP 9 40 0 4 0.5 16.3 LP10 36 4 4 0.5 3.8 LP 11 40 0 7 0.5 1.3 LP 12 36 4 7 0.5 2.9 LP 13 40 0 10 0.5 1.8 LP 14 36 4 10 0.5 3.6

Example 8 Comparison of Solution Polymerization of a Mixture of Linear Oligomers with Monomers with a Solution Polymerization of a Mixture of Monomers Only

To demonstrate polymerization of a mixture of monomers only, a charge of about 253.55 mmol of BDO, about 240.08 mmol of DMT, and anhydrous oDCB (enough to result in a solution containing about 30% reactant solids) were added to a 250 ml three-necked round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a short path distillation head with a receiver flask, and an inert gas inlet. The reactants were then heated in a temperature-controlled oil bath. The initial temperature was set at 160° C. The overhead space of the flask was swept with a stream of dry nitrogen at a flow rate of approximately 50 to 100 ml/min throughout the polymerization. Approximately 0.04 mmol of TPT was added to the surface of the solution by microliter syringe after the space had been swept with nitrogen for 15 minutes. The solution in the reaction flask was sampled throughout the polymerization in order to monitor the molecular weight of the polymer by gel permeation chromatography (“GPC”) (See Appendix A). The results of the GPC analysis are summarized in Table 9 below and FIG. 9. TABLE 9 Solution Polymerization of Mixture of Monomers Only Time (hr) Molecular Weight (Daltons)/1000 3 7.96 4 19.51 5 26.06 6 30.54 7 38.28 8 45.00 9 48.30 10 55.12 11 60.02 12 66.78

To produce the mixture of linear oligomers and monomers, approximately 50 g of hot filter cake, about 187.53 mmol BDO, and about 183.04 mmol of DMT, and oDCB were charged to a 250 ml three-necked flask with a mechanical stirrer and a 15×1 cm packed column fitted with a short path still head and receiver. The flask was heated in a 215° C. oil bath to reflux the solvent into the column so that the lower boiling materials such as water and THF were released overhead and the higher boiling materials such as oDCB were returned to the flask. 0.052 mmol of TPT was then added to the flask.

The solution was sampled over time and analyzed by GPC to monitor the molecular weight of the polymer, as was similarly done in the Example described in Appendix A. The results of the GPC analysis are summarized in Table 10 below and FIG. 9. TABLE 10 Solution Polymerization of Mixture of Linear Oligomers and Monomers Time (hr) Molecular Weight (Daltons)/1000 3 12.53 4 21.29 5 29.37 7 45.35 8.5 57.51 10 66.86

Example 9 Depolymerization of Polymerized Linear Oligomers in Glassware at 180° C.

Approximately 1.54 g of 7 mmol PBT and 105 ml of oDCB were charged to a dried and inert 250 ml three-necked flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer and a short path distillation head and receiver. The flask was heated in a 215° C. oil bath to dissolve the polymer and to drive 5 ml of distillate overhead to ensure a dry environment. The temperature of the oil bath was then lowered to 200° C. and approximately 0.070 ml of a 1M organo titanate catalyst solution of freshly prepared Ti(BD:HG) (4:1) in oDCB was added to the flask. The solution was sampled just prior to catalyst addition and at five, ten, and 15 minutes after catalyst addition for cPBT concentration determination by HPLC as described in Appendix D. After the final sample was taken, an additional 0.21 ml catalyst solution was added, and the flask heated at reflux for an additional three hours before obtaining a final sample.

The initial rate of cPBT formation was calculated by determining the slope of the line defined by plotting the concentration of cPBT in g/L versus reaction time. The initial rates and the concentration of cPBT after three hours of depolymerization are summarized in Table 11.

Similar experiments were conducted to form mixtures with an initial rate of cPBT formation of about 16.29 g/L/hr and 14.85 g/L/hr. The concentration of cPBT in the mixtures throughout the course of the depolymerizations is summarized in Tables 12 and 13 below and in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows a graph of the concentration of diol dimer, for example, bishydroxylbutyl terephthalate (BDO ester), in a depolymerization reaction mixture after 5 minutes of depolymerization at 180° C., plotted as a function of catalyst concentration, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. TABLE 11 Results of Depolymerization of Polymerized Linears Initial Rate of cPBT [cPBT] % Crude Formation after 3 hrs Reaction Linears Mw (Daltons) (g/L/hr) (g/L) 1 0 18.1K @ 14 hr 16.8 9.14 3 0 73.3K @ 14 hr 14.7 9.64 9 0 36.6K @ 4 hr 8.7 9.37 11 0 53.2K @ 7 hr 14.4 9.57 13 0 53.2K @ 10 hr 12.2 9.65 5 5 39.0K @ 14 hr 10.7 9.46 7 5 84.3K @ 14 hr 13.6 9.70 10 10 40.2K @ 4 hr 12.9 9.93 12 10 50.7K @ 7 hr 9.9 9.79 14 10 81.0K @ 10 hr 11.0 10.0 6 20 51.2K @ 14 hr 10.6 10.0 8 20 123.6K @ 14 hr 10.6 10.0 2 100 67.8K @ 14 hr 0.25 7.53 4 100 50.0K @ 14 hr 3.24 9.31

TABLE 12 Depolymerization Initial Rate of 16.29 g/L/hr Time (hr) [cPBT] (g/L)  0.0333 0.887  0.08333 1.959  0.16667 3.068  0.5 6.637  1 8.518  3 9.54  5 9.63 22 10.52 Filtrate 30.65

TABLE 13 Depolymerization Initial Rate of 14.85 g/L/hr Time (hr) [cPBT] (g/L) 0.0333 0.815 0.08333 1.59 0.16667 2.8 0.5 5.91 1 7.90 2 9.21 4 9.89 20 10.50

Example 10 Depolymerization of Polymerized Linear Oligomers at Higher Temperatures in Plug Flow Coils

PBT was dissolved in oDCB at 180° C. to yield a 0.07M solution, and approximately 20 ml of the 4 L polymer solution was removed as distillate to dry the system. The solution was then allowed to cool to 20° C., and an organo titanate catalyst solution of freshly prepared Ti(BD:HG) (4:1) in oDCB was added. The resulting slurry was pumped through ⅜″×20′ coils, which were submerged in 245° C. oil baths. The coils were connected to a pressure can held at 80 psi to maintain adequate backpressure in the system to prevent the oDCB from vaporizing in the reactor coils. The flow rate of the slurry through the coils was controlled to give average residence times of approximately 10 to 12 minutes in each 20′ coil. Samples were taken at one-hour intervals from the outlet of each reactor coil to determine the cPBT yield in the continuous reaction system. (This was determined using a HPLC method similar to that described in Appendix D.) The polymers from experiments LP# 1, 3, 9, 11, and 13 of Example 7 (Table 8) were combined to evaluate the polymer formed from the titanium-free linear oligomers and the polymers from experiments LP#6, 7, 10, 12, and 14 of Example 7 (Table 8) were combined to evaluate the effect of having 10% crude linear oligomers mixed with titanium-free linear oligomers. Results from the analyses indicated that each polymer resulted in an average yield of 9.3 g/L of cPBT under these reaction conditions.

Further Discussion of Experimental Results

Part I: Low Acid PBT by Solution Polymerization. Polymerization reactions of BDO and DMT are carried out in a round bottom flask in oDCB solvent at temperatures no higher than the atmospheric boiling point of oDCB (182° C.) with a trace amount (10-100 ppm) of tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT) as a catalyst. The slurry of BDO, DMT and oDCB present after formulation at room temperature forms a solution once heated to about 100° C. and DMT does not sublime from this solution making it easy to work with. DMT sublimation is often problematic in melt polymerization reactions of polyester resins, requiring special conditions and reactor designs to compensate. The methanol liberated in the condensation of monomers, along with any other volatile components which distill over head, are condensed in a chilled receiver and the composition of the collected distillate is monitored over time using gas chromatography. The reactions are maintained at about 30-50% PBT solids (higher concentrations become insoluble) for between 6 and 12 hrs, and the polymer molecular wt. is monitored over time by size exclusion chromatography (GPC). Monomer amounts are carefully formulated to the flask (via use of analytical balance), and the ratio of BDO to DMT is adjusted after completion of reaction by compensating the amount formulated for the amount of monomers distilled into receiver and the amount of BDO converted to THF. The polymer thus formed will crystallize upon cooling below 170° C. and can be formed into a powder wet cake for further analyses (acid titration and depolymerization evaluation). Detailed examples and experimental procedures that describe the techniques of solution polymerization, depolymerization to make cPBT, isolation and purification of cPBT thus prepared, and melt polymerization of cPBT thus isolated, as well as the procedures used to characterize the products and intermediates of these steps are presented herein.

Results from a series of ten solution depolymerization reactions carried out using the procedure described in the experimental section are displayed in the tables and figures. Table 2 presents the formulation variables (BDO, DMT, oDCB, and TPT catalyst) amounts used in each reaction and also presents the adjusted monomer ratio. Table 3 presents the final molecular weight of the polymer at a final reaction time (as indicated), the total amount to THF liberated from each reaction, and the level of residual acid present in each polymer as determined by potentiometric titration. Table 14 below demonstrates a relationship between the titanium catalyst concentration in the solution polymerization and both the amount of THF generated and the residual acid level. TABLE 14 Relationship between Ti catalyst level, amount of THF generated, and residual acid level Example 1 Catalyst Level THF Generated Residual Acid in Reaction # (mol % Ti) (mol % of BDO) polymer (Meq/kg) 2 0.44 0.88 17.8 1 0.136 0.54 7.52 3 0.05 0.35 3.3 8 0.025 0.167 1.6 7 0.025 0.113 1 10 0.016 0.12 0.9

Table 15 shows the acid content of some commercially available PBT polymers for comparison with acid levels in solution polymers created in Example 1 (Table 3). TABLE 15 Comparison of commercially-available PBTs with low-acid PBTs produced in Example 1 Mw vs. PS Method of standard Residual Acid in Polymer producing polymer (Daltons)/1000 polymer (Meq/kg) GE Valox 315 melt 115 38 GE Valox 195 melt 53 18 BASF 6550 melt 95 19 BASF 3550 melt 60 16 Celanex 2001 solid state 125 7 Reaction 10 in solvent 67 <1 (Example 1)

FIG. 12 displays how THF is liberated over time in polymerizations of Example 1 with different catalyst levels. Since THF is liberated by its release from a hydroxyl butylester and the corresponding formation of an acid, the rate of THF liberation corresponds approximately proportionally to the rate of acid formation in the system. The fact that residual acid levels increase with increasing rates of THF formation suggests that esterification of acids thus formed is less impacted by raising catalyst concentration than THF formation. This may also predict how residual acid levels in solution PBT vary with the catalyst concentration. The range of levels of titanium catalyst that provide low acid PBT under these reaction conditions can be determined.

FIGS. 13A, B, and C show titration curves produced from acid analysis of a blank (A), a commercial polymer (GE Valox 315) (B), and a low acid polymer produced by the method of Example 1 (Reaction 10) (C). Because the titration volume required for the blank to reach the potentiometric endpoint (−60 mv) is about 0.17 ml, and because titration volumes for the low acid polymer are all below 0.5 ml, it follows that actual acid levels are at least about 30% less than the reported uncorrected levels. Thus, the acid level in solution PBTs made at 40% solids in oDCB at 182° C. with 0.015-0.03 mol % titanium as TPT (13-26 ppm wt/wt Ti) is consistently less than or equal to 1 Meq/Kg, which represents >85% reduction in acid as compared to the lowest acid PBT commercially available.

Results indicate THF formation and residual acid level in the polymer are strongly influenced by catalyst and that titanium in the 13-26 ppm range is not only useful for preparation of very low acid polymer, but the level of THF generated (expressed as mole % of the formulated BDO) is consistently below 0.3%. Thus, BDO lost as THF in solution polymerization is consistently in the range of 0.3 to 0.1%, which represents an increase in BDO usage efficiency of 97 to 90% as compared to a standard melt polymerization process.

Part II: cPBT Formation from Depolymerization of Ultra Low Acid PBT. Depolymerization reactions to form cPBT from dilute solutions of PBT are carried out in the same apparatus as the solution polymerizations, only at a polymer concentration in the range of 0.75 to 1.5% instead of 30-50%. The polymer is again taken to ring-chain equilibrium in the presence of an organo titanate catalyst in oDCB solvent. For ease of comparison, all reactions were carried out at atmospheric boiling point of oDCB (182° C.). The procedure (details in Example 2 above) involves dissolution of polymer at set concentration, heating to reflux, removal of small portion of the solvent overhead to insure dryness, then addition of catalyst as a solution in oDCB and following the formation of cPBT over time by a calibrated HPLC method. Equilibration is generally quite fast provided an effective level of catalyst is present, with reactions nearing completion in 1 to 1.5 hrs at 180° C. (much faster at higher temperatures as preliminary data indicate that rate approximately doubles every 12-15° C.). If reactions are sampled within the first 10-15 minutes after catalyst is added, then a plot of cPBT concentration versus time will be approximately linear and the slope of that line will be a measure of the initial rate of cPBT formation in g/L/hr. In an effective range of catalyst levels, a plot of initial rate of cPBT formation versus catalyst level will also be approximately linear, so that it is possible to experimentally ascertain the rate of cPBT formation as a function of catalyst level. The results shown in Tables 4 and 5 of Example 2 demonstrate the dramatic difference in both initial rate of cPBT formation and effective catalyst ranges exhibited by different PBTs as a function of their acid content. Additionally, the data show that as catalyst level is decreased, the level of hydroxyl butylester linear oligomers in the reaction is approximately proportionally decreased as well. Because these species are the major impurities in the cPBT process, and because they must be converted back to acids so they can be removed from the cPBT in a purification step, the ability to reduce catalyst concentration has the benefit reducing impurities in the production of cPBT.

Results from depolymerization reactions of several commercial PBTs and several PBTs prepared by solution polymerization appear in Tables 4 and 5 of Example 2. Tables 4 and 5 list initial rates of cPBT formation for various catalyst levels and for different commercially available PBTs (melt and solid state polymers) and low acid PBTs prepared by polymerization in solvent as described herein. Table 5 presents initial rates at different catalyst levels for different polymers that contain various levels of residual acid. FIG. 11 shows how residual bis hydroxyl butylester species vary as a direct function of catalyst used to prepare cPBT.

As shown by these experiments, there are advantages of using very low acid PBT (prepared by solution polymerization methods described herein) as raw material to prepare cPBT by the solution depolymerization process described herein. When compared to a low acid version of a melt PBT such as BASF 6550 grade resin, (with an effective catalyst concentration is about 0.85 mM) an 80% reduction of catalyst level is possible while maintaining an effective level to reach equilibrium (about 0.15 mM for solution PBT), and a higher initial rate (16.3 vs. 13.5 g/L/hr) is obtained using about one half the catalyst concentration (0.47 mM vs. 0.85 mM). When compared to a very low acid commercially-available polymer, Ticona's Celanex 2001 grade solid state resin, the initial rate is twice as high (16.3 vs. 8.0) at the low end of effective catalyst concentration for Celenex (0.47 mM) but the effective catalyst range for a solution PBT extends to about 0.15 mM or a 3× reduction. By virtue of its very low acid content, PBT prepared by the solution polymerization processes described herein offers a 2 to 4 times enhancement in cPBT formation rate enhancement, or a 60-80% catalyst reduction as compared to commercially available state of the art polymers prepared by prior methods.

Another advantage of using low catalyst to prepare cPBT is illustrated in FIG. 11. The level of bishydroxy butylesters (diol dimer) in the depolymerization reaction is approximately directly proportional to the catalyst level employed in the reaction. The ability to use lower catalyst levels has the added benefit of making cPBT with lower level of impurities, which in turn leads to a more cost efficient process.

Part III: Improved Process Example of Monomers=>Polymer=>cPBT=>Polymer. Solution polymerization Reaction #10 described in Example 1 was taken onto depolymerization in Example 2 (see Table 4, last entry), and then through isolation and purification of cPBT (see Example 3). Then, the isolated cPBT was melt polymerized back to PBT polymer with high molecular weight (see Example 3), similar to that of PBT polymer produced from the melt polymerization of cPBT that has been prepared by depolymerization of commercially-available PBT. This experiment demonstrates the cycle beginning with starting materials (BDO, DMT, and TPT), making low-acid PBT by solution polymerization of the starting materials, converting the PBT to cPBT, and polymerizing the cPBT into PBT polymer. cPBT produced by solution polymerization methods described herein is fully comparable to cPBT prepared from commercially available PBTs, as melt polymerization of such cPBT yielded PBT with similarly high molecular weight (178,000 Daltons, as shown in Example 3). This also demonstrates significant improvements to the basic cPBT process, some of which would not be possible without the very low acid PBT being available as the depolymerization feedstock.

The basic process currently used to prepare cPBT typically requires depolymerization with specialty organo titanate catalysts at high temperature (>240° C.). This provides cPBT along with some amount of acid terminated linears which must be “polished” from filtrate streams to afford pure cPBT. Some issues with this process include: 1) relatively high catalyst levels required (1-3 mol % of PBT or about $0.05-$0.15/lbs of cPBT); 2) High hydroxyl butylester levels from the catalyst and thus high acid levels in filtrate (typically 0.5-1.5 mol % acid in filtrate from this process); 3) high acid levels require large amount of basic alumina (about 1 lb of alumina for 10-30 lbs of cPBT treated or a cost of about $0.02-$0.06/lbs of cPBT) or use of another acid absorption technology (ion exchange); and 4) filtration of linear precipitates from this process is very difficult as the combination of high acid, high temperature and high titanium concentration lead to gellular solids.

Hydroxyl butylester slowly reacts to form THF and carboxylic acid at 182° C., and the linears which precipitate from depolymerization reaction solutions upon cooling are not gellular in nature. Thus, filtration operations are dramatically improved as compared with the current high temperature/high acid/high catalyst process. In addition, the level of residual acids in the filtrate from the improved process is reduced by 80-90%, which in turn cuts purification costs in roughly direct proportion.

The conversion of monomers to PBT and that PBT, in turn, to cPBT reduces the required capital equipment and material usage in the PBT production stage. Furthermore, by virtue of the unique composition of the PBT so produced (i.e. low acid), the capital equipment and material usage is also reduced in the cPBT production stage.

Table 16 below is a comparison of results from processing commercial PBT by a standard depolymerization process and processing solution PBT (reaction #14) by the process described herein (Reaction 10, Example 1 polymerization, then follow-on depolymerization in Example 2). TABLE 16 Improvements of Depolymerization with Low Temperature/Low Catalyst/Low Acid PBT cPBT cPBT process process using w/ solution Area of Comparison Melt PBT PBT Acid in Polymers (Meq/Kg) 7-40 melt vs. 1 or <1 solid state Catalyst Required (mol %) 1-3% vs. PBT 0.2-0.7% vs. PBT Filter Flux (Kg/m²/hr) cPBT 10-30 200-1000 Acid in Filtrate (mol % vs. cPBT)    0.5-1.5% 0.1% Alumina Required(lbs/lbs cPBT) 0.03-0.1  <0.005

Certain examples herein pertain to synthesis and use of PBT in solution as, essentially, an intermediate in a cPBT production process. In these examples, the PBT has been shown to contain significantly reduced residual acid levels and better processing behavior as compared to any other PBT made by conventional means. The low acid PBT, once prepared in solution, can be isolated and used as an engineering thermoplastic resin. Without stabilization of some sort, extrusion and molding operations may lead to in-situ generation of acids by known decomposition pathways, but with common methods of stabilization used during these operations, isolated PBT can be produced with acid levels unattainable in any other way. Correspondingly, there may be improvements in polymer properties, like hydrolytic and thermal stability, that are known to be affected by acid levels.

Part IV: Demonstrating recyclability of linears. To demonstrate a range of conditions suitable for the recovery of linears back to polymer, experiments of Example 7 were designed to utilize combinations of titanium free linears and crude linears in a range of 0-100%. To investigate the reaction time required, polymerization times were varied from 4-14 hrs, and experiments were conducted (i) using 100% Ti-free linears and (ii) using linears which contained 10% crude linears. In total, 14 linear polymerizations were conducted following the procedure of Example 7 and reaction variables (reaction times, linear compositions and amounts of BDO added) are contained in Table 8. FIGS. 14A-14D show plots of molecular weight of the polymer as a function of reaction time for Reactions LP1 to LP8. FIG. 14A compares two reactions both with Ti-free linears, but using different amounts of BDO; FIG. 14B compares two reactions both with 100% crude linears, but using different amounts of BDO; FIG. 14C compares four reactions each with 1.0 g BDO, but using different proportions of crude linears/Ti-free linears; and FIG. 14D compares three reactions each with 0.5 g BDO, but using different proportions of crude linears/Ti-free linears. The composition of the linears used (acid content, Mw and % cPBT) is contained in Table 7. For the Ti-free linears which contained 237 mmol/Kg of acid by titration analysis, the equivalent amount of diol required for 40 g would be 4.74 mmol or 0.427 g. Thus, using 0.5 g (5.55 mmol) of BDO represents an 18% excess of diol to acid and 1 g of BDO (11.1 mmol) represents a 134% excess of diol. Considering that 40 g of polymer is produced (181.8 mmol based on monomer repeat units), then the excess of BDO to polymer is 0.45% at 0.5 g BDO and 3.5% when 1 g of BDO is used. This represents a very similar range of excess BDO levels that have been shown to be effective in solution polymerization from pure monomers (without linear oligomers) as shown in the experimental reactions of Example 1.

In reactions in Table 8 which used 100% crude linears, the level of titanium in the polymerization reaction is very high compared to when Ti-free linears are used. Considering that 3 mol % titanium was used in the de-polymerization reaction (which, upon filtration, gave a 70% yield of cPBT) and considering that all the titanium remained with the 30% linears fraction, the amount of titanium in the crude linears is around 9 mol %. This is much higher than the amount of titanium in the reactions with Ti-free oligomers—only 0.015% (the Ti from the 15 mg of TPT). The high Ti levels in the crude linears affect the amount of BDO which decomposes to THF during the polymerization. For instance, in Reaction LP2 in Table 8 in which only crude linear oligomers was used, 1 g of added BDO was insufficient to fully react with all the acids (only 71% conversion of linears to polymer). However, in Reaction LP1 in Table 8 in which only Ti-free linear oligomers were used, 1 g of BDO gave the expected result of low Mw PBT (18K), since very little of the BDO decomposed. In reaction LP4 in Table 8 in which 2.3 g of BDO was added to the crude linears, full conversion of linears was achieved, although residual acid was high at 22.7 mmol/Kg in the polymer. With the Ti free linears used in reaction LP3 in Table 8, 0.5 g BDO allowed the polymer to build to high Mw (73K) and the final polymer was low in acid at 1.2 mmol/Kg. Therefore, at least in one embodiment, it is preferable to re-polymerize Ti-free linears, since they require less BDO and give lower acid polymer. However, re-polymerization of crude linears can be achieved to give polymer suitable for use in making cPBT.

The effect of lower levels of crude linears (5-20%) is less severe. In all cases in which reactants included 5-20% crude linear oligomers, (reactions LP 7 to LP 14), 0.5 g BDO was adequate to produce low acid polymer of high Mw. In fact, having higher levels of Ti in the system from the crude linears speeds up the condensation polymerization as is evident by examining the rates of Mw builds with time for these reactions compared to reactions with Ti free linears, as seen in FIGS. 14C and 14D. Note that in reaction LP 9 (Ti free linears, 0.5 g BDO 4 hrs), the residual acid in the polymer is 16.3 mmol/Kg, while in reaction LP 10 which used 10% crude linears, the residual acid at 4 hrs was much less—3.8 mmol/Kg. The data show that a 7 hr reaction time is generally adequate to produce low acid PBT when Ti free linears are used. In general, linears containing 0-20% crude linears require 4-7 hrs to produce low acid PBTs when about 0.5 g/40 g of BDO/(linear oligomer recyclate) is used in the re-polymerization.

The experiments described in Example 9 (Tables 11, 12, and 13) show that polymer prepared by polymerizing linears to high molecular weight polymer is capable of being used to prepare cPBT. The yield of cPBT was very similar for all experiments—the yield generally ranged from 9-10 g/L where de-polymerizations were conducted with 3% Ti catalyst. Commercial PBT (BASF 6550, for example) typically yields 9.6-10 g/L cPBT under identical de-polymerization conditions.

FIG. 9 shows the results of experiments described in Example 8. Here, solution polymerizations were performed (i) using pure monomers (monomers without linear oligomer recylate) and (ii) using monomers with 25 wt % Ti-free linear oligomer recyclate. These examples demonstrate that linear recovery can be done either in a separate process (experiments LP1-LP14) or in a process combined with monomer polymerization. The effective range of conditions that are capable of producing low-acid PBT that is effective for use as a depolymerization feedstock includes essentially any composition of Ti-free or crude linears and any proportion of linears and monomers.

Finally, Example 10 describes depolymerization reactions performed at elevated temperatures to mimic operation conditions of a commercial process. These experiments were performed with polymer prepared from Ti-free linears and polymer from 10% crude linears. No issues with de-polymerization chemistry were noticed. Thus, polymers from recycled linears can be used to prepare cPBT over the full range of practical de-polymerization conditions. Polymers made from re-polymerization of linears are substantially indistinguishable from polymers prepared from monomers in the solution polymerization method described herein.

APPENDICES

Appendix A: GPC Method to Determine the Molecular Weight of PBT Polymers

The solution from Example 1 was allowed to cool into a powder wetcake. A roughly 20 to 50 mg sample of the wetcake was then charged into a 5 ml vial containing a small magnetic stir bar. Approximately 1 ml of a 25/75 v/v hexafluoroisopropanol (“HFIP”)-methylene chloride solution was added to the vial. The sample was stirred with slight warming until the wetcake completely dissolved. About 4 ml of chloroform was then added to the vial, and the resulting solution filtered through a 0.45 μm syringe filter into an autosampler vial.

An Agilent 1100 HPLC system manufactured by Agilent Technologies, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., was used for the analysis and included the following components: solvent degasser, pump, autosampler, column oven, ChemStation software, GPC add-on module to perform molecular weight calculations, chloroform recycling system, and Phenomenex Phenogel 5 μm linear columns (2 in series; 300×7.8 mm (L×diameter), P/N 00H-3259-KO). The system was set for a 1 ml/min chloroform flow rate through the columns, a pump pressure of around 20 to 30 bar, a 1 μL sample injection size, a 40° C. column oven temperature, and a 254 nm wavelength. The system was calibrated using polystyrene standards of known molecular weights.

The GPC software calculates several values, including the number average molecular weight (Mn), the weight average molecular weight (Mw), and the peak molecular weight (Mp).

Appendix B: GC Analysis of the Distillate

Approximately 1 g of a solution of n-dodecane (“DoD”) in oDCB (6.383 mg DoD/g of oDCB) was added to a sample of distillate collected in the receiver flask of Example 1. The resulting sample was then injected into an Agilent Technologies 6890N Network gas chromatograph system, manufactured by Agilent Technologies, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., that was equipped with a Chem. Station analysis software package. The column used with the GC was an Agilent HP-5 30M column with a 0.32 mm inner diameter and 0.25 mm film thickness. The injection volume was 0.2 ml with a split ratio of 100:1 and a split flow of 206 ml/min. The oven temperature was held at 60° C. for two minutes, increased at a rate of 10° C./minute to 90° C., and then, increased at a rate of 40° C./min to 240° C. Calibration standards were synthetically prepared to determine the retention times and response factors of all of the compounds of interest. (See Table A.) The response factor is defined as the (mg/area)_(compound)/(mg/area)_(DoD). TABLE A Analysis of Calibration Standards Retention Time Response Compound of Interest (min) Factor vs. DoD Methanol 1.59 3.185 Isopropyl alcohol 1.68 1.957 Tetrahydrofuran 2.071 1.580 1,4 butanediol 4.95 2.071 Dodecane 7.12 1 1,3 dichlorobenzene 5.79 1.681 1,4 dichlorobenzene 5.89 1.681 1,2 dichlorobenzene 6.14 1.681 1,4 dimethyl terephthalate 8.47 1.804 Appendix C: Potentiometric Titration Method to Determine Residual Acid in PBT

Approximately 1 g of distillate was charged into a 125 ml Erlenmeyer flask containing a magnetic stir bar. 25 ml of o-cresol solution (75 vol. % o-cresol in methylene chloride (CH₂Cl₂) was then added to the flask, and the resulting solution warmed and stirred until the distillate completely dissolved. The solution was allowed to cool to room temperature, and then, transferred to a 100 ml plastic beaker for autotitration.

A Mettler Toledo DL50 autotitrator system manufactured by Mettler Toledo of Columbus, Ohio was used to analyze the distillate. The system included a Mettler Toledo DG113-SC glass electrode (stored in a 1 M LiCl in ethanol solution) and a computer running LabX software for titrator remote control. Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (“TBAOH”) was used as the titrant (2.50 ml of 1.0 N TBAOH solution in water was diluted to 250 ml with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (“TFE”)). The TBAOH titrant normality was standardized using 5.0 mg of monomethyl hydroxyterephthalate (“MHT”) (0.050±0.001 g (0.278 mmol) MHT was placed in a 100 mL volumetric flask and diluted to 100 mL with MeOH).

Appendix D: HPLC Method to Determine cPBT Concentration in Depolymerization Reaction

Approximately 1 g of a solution of n-dodecane (“DoD”) in oDCB (6.383 mg DoD/g of oDCB) was added to a sample of solution collected in Example 5. The resulting sample was then injected into a Hewlett Packard 1050 series HPLC system, manufactured by Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto, Calif., that was equipped with a HPLC reverse phase column (Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 4.6 mm×15 cm). The system is calibrated using pure cPBT dimers dissolved in solutions of phenanthrene in THF. A sample containing about 10 to 20 mg of cPBT was charged to a vial. Using a 5 ml volumetric pipette, 5.00 ml of an approximately 15.8 mg/L solution of phenanthrene in THF was added to the vial to dissolve the cPBT. The sample was then filtered through a 0.2 μm filter into a HPLC vial. A 3 to 5 μL sample was injected using an acetonitrile:water gradient which ramped from 50:50 to 100:0 over 18 minutes, and then, held at 100% MeCN for 4 minutes before being returned to initial conditions over the next 2 minutes.

EQUIVALENTS

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer, the method comprising: (a) exposing a mixture to heat to produce a polyalkylene terephthalate product, the mixture at least initially comprising: (i) a diol; (ii) a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate; (iii) an organic solvent; and (iv) a catalyst; and (b) depolymerizing the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer. 2.-3. (canceled)
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of recyclate to non-recyclate monomer at least initially in the mixture of step (a) is greater than about 10:90.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of recyclate to non-recyclate monomer at least initially in the mixture of step (a) is greater than about 25:75.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of recyclate to non-recyclate monomer at least initially in the mixture of step (a) is greater than about 50:50.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture of step (a) further comprises a dialkyl ester.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the diol is butanediol, the dialkyl ester is dimethyl terephthalate, and the polyalkylene terephthalate is polybutylene terephthalate.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the recyclate comprises at least one of a linear oligomer and a macrocyclic polyester oligomer.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the recyclate comprises an acid-capped linear oligomer.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the recyclate in step (a) is from the depolymerization in step (b).
 12. (canceled)
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the recyclate is treated for removal of metal-containing compounds prior to step (a).
 14. (canceled)
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least 80 wt. % of the recyclate is treated.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the metal-containing compounds are Ti-containing compounds.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the metal-containing compounds comprise catalyst residue.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of precipitating a metal-containing compound from the recyclate prior to step (a).
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of precipitating the metal-containing compound from the recyclate is performed without addition of water.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of precipitating the metal-containing compound from the recyclate comprises exposing the recylate to a temperature of at least about 245° C. for at least about 10 minutes. 22.-27. (canceled)
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein at least about 85 weight percent of monomer units from the diol and the recyclate is converted to the macrocyclic polyester oligomer.
 29. (canceled)
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein at least about 98 weight percent of monomer units from the diol and the recyclate is converted to the macrocyclic polyester oligomer. 31.-33. (canceled)
 34. The method of claim 1, wherein the overall conversion of monomer to macrocyclic polyester oligomer is at least about 98%.
 35. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent comprises ortho-dichlorobenzene. 36.-46. (canceled)
 47. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises titanium and is present in the mixture at a concentration within a range from about 0.01 mol Ti to about 0.03 mol Ti per 100 mol monomer units, the recyclate, and optionally a dialkyl ester in the mixture. 48.-59. (canceled)
 60. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted at a temperature within a range from about 170° C. to about 210° C.
 61. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted at a temperature within a range from about 170° C. to about 210° C. and at a pressure no less than about atmospheric pressure. 62.-69. (canceled)
 70. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate product has an acid concentration of less than about 7 meq/kg.
 71. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate product has an acid concentration of less than about 5 meq/kg.
 72. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate product has an acid concentration of less than about 2 meq/kg. 73.-76. (canceled)
 77. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) is performed using at least one continuous or semi-continuous reactor.
 78. (canceled)
 79. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) is performed using at least one multiple-stage reactor. 80.-83. (canceled)
 84. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture in step (a) has a water concentration no greater than 50 ppm.
 85. (canceled)
 86. The method of claim 84, wherein the mixture in step (a) has an oxygen concentration no greater than 20 ppm. 87.-90. (canceled)
 91. A continuous or semi-continuous process for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer, the process comprising: a first unit operation having an output stream, wherein the first unit operation is adapted to expose a mixture to heat thereby forming a polyalkylene terephthalate product, wherein the mixture at least initially comprises a diol, a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate, an organic solvent, a catalyst, and optionally a dialkyl ester; and a second unit operation having an input stream that comprises at least a portion of the output stream of the first unit operation, wherein the second unit operation is adapted to expose the input stream to heat, thereby producing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer.
 92. A method for preparing a macrocyclic polyester oligomer, the method comprising: (a) exposing a mixture to heat to produce a polyalkylene terephthalate product, the mixture at least initially comprising: (i) a diol; (ii) a recyclate from depolymerization of a polyalkylene terephthalate; (iii) a catalyst; and optionally (iv) a dialkyl ester; and (b) depolymerizing the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) to produce a macrocyclic polyester oligomer.
 93. The method of claim 92, wherein the mixture of step (a) further comprises a solvent.
 94. The method of claim 92, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate product from step (a) has an acid concentration of less than about 10 meq/kg. 